Art has been a new and not-so-new love. A better way to say it would be to say that the visual arts are 'newish' to me.

I enjoy all forms of expression. Music is my first love - introduced to me by my father with his guitar, reel-to-reel tape player with microphone, and his own love of music. I soon grew an instrumentalist, and then part-time working vocalist. It has become much of my identity and music much of my world. The world of music has always been my safe place. And it has saved me so many times along my life's journey. Without music, I'd been lost.

I've also enjoyed the written word. I've blogged on www.everydaywithma.com and in 2018 I published a book about how to survive a financial disaster and come out on the other side. I've dabbled in stand-up comedy - which is the perfect blend of writing and music, believe it or not. (There exists such a timing and musicality to the comedic delivery of each stand-up routine and its complexity fascinates me, but I digress...)

But visual arts - specifically painting - gives me a different way to express through color, texture, balance or not, abstraction, and interpretation. It is an amazing feeling when it all comes together and I am in the 'zone', so to speak. I can trust myself and it all comes out, like music.

And for me, it really IS about trusting myself and getting there. I once read a quote about how an artist ultimately works closer to becoming their true selves. And that's the trust, truth, and authenticity I'm talking about - it's nothing that can be faked.

I am so grateful for this form of expression and the opportunities to keep trying. There are constant challenges, which I try not to let discourage me and I try to regularly find affirmations to continue going instead of giving up. It's often simply a matter of showing up for myself with my canvas, paints and a willingness to trust myself to see where the journey will take me.

Thank you so much for your support and interest in artists and their work. It means so much!

With fondness and gratitude,

Jenny