going back to school.

well...sort of. 

i am very excited (and a wee bit nervous) about starting lilla rogers online course, make art that sells, on june 3rd. i will be freshly rested having returned from vacation only a few days prior. i have a good feeling that this will open some new doors for me!
wish me luck!

nice hair.

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i really enjoyed painting this piece! the buyer commissioned it for a friend who's totem animal is the pileated woodpecker. what a kind gesture!
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cerulean.

'hick's orchard' • 7X10" • watercolor on paper

what an amazing bright, spring weekend, eh? (except, perhaps, if you live in minnesota or wisconsin.)

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i got my hands in the dirt and wrangled some early weeds. adam mowed the lawn for the first time this year. we grilled our saturday night dinner and i finally think i (may have) mastered a vegetarian "meat" sauce for loaded veggie dogs. we finally watched '7 psychopaths' which i think is my current favorite movie. it reminded me of 'reservoir dogs' although not quite as violent.

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we have a very exciting vacation planned for the end of this month. i plan to take full advantage of the time to relax as i have a couple big projects planned for june. 

more on june to come!

short but steep.

oh, hadley mountain...your short distance betrays your difficulty. 1,525 feet of elevation gain in 1.8 miles? i won't hold it against you though-you big lump of rock-because it's all worth it in the end.

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(more pictures here)

the power of our own self image.

this video has been making the rounds on the internet and for good reason.
it's rare that advertising is so powerful in a way that is meaningful and altering. i can certainly identify, as i am sure most women can.
if you haven't watched this yet, please do.

*addendum*
there is some interesting feminist criticism of Dove's 'real beauty' ad campaign (here: bitch magazine and feministing, for starters). while i agree that this series of commercials doesn't change the beauty standards and continues to assert that beauty = value, can't we all agree that this moves advertising in better direction?

will you help me?

many of you already know that my 'day job' is as an HIV care manager, helping support local folks infected with HIV/AIDS. this work is important to me because i get the opportunity to support people living in my own area and in my own town.

you might also be aware that on Thursday April 25th the AIDS Council of Northeastern New York will be celebrating Dining Out for Life. this is a really fun way to raise money because all folks have to do is go out to eat. a portion of your bill will automatically be donated by participating restaurants to help the AIDS Council stock their food pantries, buy condoms, help prevent homelessness, among many, many other things. just by dining out at one of the participating restaurants you are entered in a drawing to win a trip to the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas!!!

the best part is that i will be serving as the ambassador at the Recovery Sports Grill in Queensbury, NY for dinner on April 25th. not only can you eat great food, have a drink, and watch some sports but you can also visit me (and support a great cause, of course)!

can't come out that night? well, you can still help me reach my personal fundraising goal of $500 by donating here: https://aidscouncilneny.ejoinme.org/?tabid=454776. you are still entered to win the trip to the Bahamas by donating online!