Blogs that ROCK!

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Laura&Tina

Dear Tina & sweet friends,

I have been in creativity OVERLOAD and LOVE IT! I just finished a rockin’ three day webinar on Creative Live with James Wedmore about You Tube and I couldn’t take notes fast enough. It was so inspiring I am actually entertaining learning how to create videos of my work. As you can imagine it will be a learning curve but one that juices me up when I think about it!

I am also taking a wonderful class called, Blog Boss with Holly Becker of Decor8. I have been learning, watching, absorbing and inspired, hoping to make our blog better. I am also entertaining starting a second blog and researching ways to make it special & meaningful (more to come!).

This weeks homework was to closely examine blogs we love and do a case study on them.

Here are 8 blogs I LOVE & why I think they ROCK!

Jessica Swift’s blog, Treasuring is amazingly colorful and FUN. I imagine her to be genuine and sweet and I am in love with her creative work. She shares her inspiration, snippets of her current work, the different series she writes and little bit of her daily life. She is one gal I would love to know.

Alyson Stanfield’s blog is wonderful not only for its ease in navigation but for the content as well. Her blog is about art business and she is amazingly generous with the information she shares. Alyson is current, stays on top of trends and is always re-evaluating, assessing and updating her own blog and business. She makes me strive for the same commitment to excellence she empowers.

I recently discovered Alisa Burke and love the clean layout of her blog. It is easy to navigate and her pictures are uniform and engaging. She has a unique font she uses for her titles and I am drawn to the sweet, hand drawn social media buttons with her artwork on them. Her many creative projects (which I LOVE) are photographed beautifully. This woman’s creativity never stops! SO very inspiring!

Kelly Rae’s blog rocks in so many ways. Visually, I love the white background with a pop of color in the border. You know right away what the blog is about from her description and get a sense of her style. Her social media buttons are in several places making it easy to navigate and she has created a clever list documenting her journey as both an artist and business woman. Kelly Rae is brilliant at authentically marketing her work, making you want to cheer her on in her journey.

I am a huge fan of Mae Chevrette’s artwork and since her blog documents her creative journey it makes for an inspiring read. It is well written, clean and inspiring. I also love her photographs and the cute kitties that she photographs in her studio. It makes me wish I had a studio cat!

I have followed Marisa of Creative Thursday for years now and am always inspired by her unique, authentic voice. She always seems to know just what I need to hear and is clear in her vision. She follows her intuition and shares the many different ways her artwork has evolved. She like me believes in the “thriving artist” but is realistic and honestly speaks about the ups and downs of being an artist. Marisa is thoughtful, encouraging, always evolving and refreshing.

I learned of Annetta Bosakova’s blog, Inspired from my class and I am blown away with her photographs! Her compositions, color and subject matter really resonate with me. I will enjoy following along in her journey and getting to know her better.

Now who wouldn’t like a blog named, “Likes to Smile“? It makes me wish I had thought of the name myself! This blog celebrates the good things in life. I really appreciate Stacey, the authors creativity and sense of style.

Hope you enjoy these blogs as much as me! What are your favorite blogs? Please share with us in the comments or if you write one of your own let us know and leave a link. We always enjoy learning and meeting new friends!

Sending cheery smiles your way…Laura

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May you wake with gratitude…

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Laura&Tina

This painting is by Lori Portka

Dear Tina & friends,

I found this quote on Jessica Swift’s blog and loved it so much I wanted to share it with you. The picture is by artist Lori Portka and I just love the bright, fun colors and saying. Although I keep a daily gratitude journal my entries haven’t been as “daily” as would like due to my NH adventures as well as getting ready for my open studio and the holiday bazaar in Guilford. I believe this is when I need to reflect the most. Life is hectic for everyone but if we don’t take the time to slow down, appreciate and savor all the goodness that surrounds us, what is the point?

“gratitude is the hearts memory…”, mixed media 6 x 6 inches Print available HERE (Original SOLD)

Last week I wrote this on my Facebook page and wanted to share it with you here as I know not everyone is on Facebook.

They say to live the life of an artist you live a life of uncertainty and I can certainly attest to that, which is why each time you share my work with your friends, buy a painting or leave a kind word it ignites my heart and inspires me to keep moving forward.

It is important to me that you all know this. Today I am overwhelmingly grateful for Tina who always listens to me even when I am neurotic, and am unsure of myself. I am also grateful to all of YOU who come here, read our blog and leave us a kind word. These seemingly small things propel us to keep doing our best even when things are uncertain and it would be easy to give up. I just wanted to acknowledge that and THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!

Love, Laura

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Laura, a picky eater?

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Laura&Tina

Michelle’s famous Tuna Salad

I have always been a picky eater and certainly struggle with in the cooking department so it was shocking to both Michelle and I that I would fall in love with her tuna salad. I ate it every day for lunch while she was here working on our collaborative painting along with some fresh summer fruit & vegetables drizzled in sweet balsamic vinegar from the Mystic Market. (You can refill your bottles there which is great and even save a dollar in the process) I love this recipe so much and wanted to share it with you as I rarely have anything to contribute in the food department and I think you will like it!

Jazzy Tuna for one

one can of tuna I prefer Bumblebee solid white in water (drain the water)
2 celery sticks chopped
some zucchini
some dill
some pickled ginger ( gari)
1-2 tablespoons mayo or Vegenaise
mustard of the spicy variety
chopped spinach or lettuces you like
pinch cayenne pepper
splash of lemon
salt and pepper to taste

mix this all together and have with crackers

I enjoy some farm fresh tomato slices, avocado and perhaps some sliced peaches with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar~all so good for you and fresh!

This lunch will leave you feeling clean and healthy!

ENJOY!

Love, Laura

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The first TWO hours…

Posted on July 22, 2012 by Laura&Tina

Hello Sweet T & friends~

I hope your weekend is going well! Did you get a chance to read Tina’s last blog post about her coming for a visit? I totally laughed out loud when I saw the picture she posted of us from the last time we were together. We were dancing fools! I cannot wait to see her and for all our plans to come to fruition. Every day I am grateful for the deep friendships I have. Having Michelle here has been wonderful. The collaborative painting we are working on is coming along great! In fact, we are down right aflutter about it! Here are a few pictures of the first few hours we worked on it yesterday.

Michelle had these crazy fun paint markers I got to experiment with, which I loved!

We layered, dripped and dribbled, creating lots of depth to the painting.

Took a break for some yummy lunch with fresh farm ingredients Michelle brought down with her from NH. I am spoiled! Michelle is as creative in the kitchen as she is with her artwork. I wish I had this gift!

Here is a little sneak peek at the next stage of the painting. We are hoping to finish it today so stay tuned for the end result!

Happy Sunday!

love,

Laura & Michelle

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“topless” on an island

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Laura&Tina

©laura gaffke 2012 "With a Song in my Heart"

Print Available HERE *original SOLD

Hello Sweet T & friends!

We have been having quite a heat wave here in CT which I have been loving for the most part. The ever present “hula girl” in me thrives in the sunshine and has been rocking out to Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney and the Zac Brown band in the studio and sometimes with one of my husband’s famous margarita’s in hand at home! I have to admit that although I love my studio it may be a bit TOO hot sometimes as the building is too old for air conditioning. You may remember that it resides above a dry cleaners and I lovingly call it my “studio sweatshop”. I find myself working early in the morning and returning home to the cool air conditioning of my house. It has actually been a good thing because it has allowed me to carve out some much needed catch up time for things like this blog, new updates for my Etsy shop, time for editing, planning for classes, submissions,etc… I still have a lot I wish to share but I am getting there.

Our own little private spot on the island. You can see a hint of our blanket on the left. We were in awe by this piece of driftwood. It was HUGE!

Brett & I had a magical weekend on Block Island for our Anniversary. This man knows how to woe me that’s for sure! He rented a groovy green jeep (owning one has been a dream of mine since junior high school) for us and we toured the island “topless”, finding tucked away beaches, fantastic restaurants and much needed relaxation. We were both mesmerized by this special place.

We found this outlandish cow car, complete with a cow bell on our way to The Oar oceanside restaurant in search of one of their famous mudslides.

They were PERFECT for such a hot day! You may remember the last time I was there and thinking it would be fun to paint an oar with TIna.

view from the Oar's outdoor bar

a little taste of heaven...aaaaahhhhh

Block Island is very moped and biker friendly. I thought this sign was a fun reminder to be aware of those around you.

Well, that is all the goodness for today. Goddess Michelle is coming down for a visit this weekend and I am giddy just thinking about it! We are creating a special collaborative painting for the Bring Our Music Back concert series that will be held at Harkness Park in August. This painting, along with more of my work will be on display and for sale in the VIP tent the nights of the concerts. We are planning to work BIG so I am sure we will be working our butts off to finish it. I can’t wait to see what creativity spills out of us!

goddess michelle & I

In addition to this we are hoping to finish a painting project we had started during Michelle’s last visit. We transformed my faded adirondack chairs into something really fun! They just ended up taking FOREVER as we needed so many coats of paint and have had to deal with the heat.

my faded red chair

If you have been following me on Facebook I know I have left you in suspense! We are SO close to being done and I can’t wait for the “big reveal”! Here is a sneak peek at four of the yummy colors.

yummy paint colors

Ironically the colors in the chairs resemble my painting above. Stay tuned for our progress!

much love,

Laura

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Renewal and Mindfulness

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Laura&Tina

©Tina Hirsig

©Tina Hirsig 2012

Hello Sweet T & Friends!

You may remember from our newsletter (you can subscribe on the right side bar) that Tina & I wanted to renew our practice of sending handmade postcards to each other, similar to our squares. She has been great at sending me them as you will see from the two above. I received the first postcard, “renew” and immediately felt grateful as that was exactly what I needed to hear in that moment. Funny how that is sometimes, isn’t it? Like most people I find myself consumed with my ongoing “to do list” and rushing onto the next big thing. I call this my “crazy mind” and know when I get this way I need to make some time to just “be”, to enjoy, to look, to listen, to appreciate everything that is good around me. I recently came across an interview Oprah’s had with Thich Nhat Hanh. For those of you unfamiliar with him here is a description from Oprah.

“He’s been a Buddhist monk for more than 60 years, as well as a teacher, writer, and vocal opponent of war—a stance that left him exiled from his native Vietnam for four decades. Now the man Martin Luther King Jr. called “an apostle of peace and nonviolence” reflects on the beauty of the present moment, being grateful for every breath, and the freedom and happiness to be found in a simple cup of tea.”

I enjoyed this interview on many levels and tried to apply what I had learned about mindfulness to my morning and it just felt great! I tried to pay attention and appreciate everything. It started off with Brett surprising me with coffee in bed which I savored and really tasted. Skye (my sweet cat) was curled up on the end of the bed purring as I gazed out my window to our lush green backyard. As many of you know, she has a tumor and the prognosis isn’t good. I have been trying not to focus my energy on that and to just love and appreciate every moment I have with her. When I do this I am not thinking about the worst that can happen in the future and I am happy. This focused energy manifested into a new body of work I call my “hope series“.

Even making toast this morning became a fulfilling ritual. I actually paid attention and tasted the spices my mom put in the wonderful natural peanut butter she left me on her last visit. Drizzling on the sweet sticky honey made it all the better and I was grateful for my friend Kelley who tends the local bees who create this sweet magic. These simple gestures along with paying attention to my breath rooted me in my morning and gave me a huge sense of peace. This is what I wish for you today.

PEACE

love, Laura

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grapes & gratitude…

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Laura&Tina

Mattebella Winery, Long Island

Hello Sweet T & friends!

My life seems to be a whirlwind of adventure and magical days spent with people who continue to inspire me and leave an imprint on my heart. Today I wish to start my day with gratitude and share a glimmer of one of those special days. For the past three years I have taken what is now an annual pilgrimage to the Long Island wineries. After the hoopla of the holidays it is a bright spot to look forward to in the (usually) cold, long, winter. Brett, my good friends Sue, Brian & I have been going there for the past three years to celebrate Valentine’s day. We head out early on the ferry with a pitcher of some delicious morning cocktail that my honey creates, a picnic basket that belonged to my gram stocked with an array of cheeses, snacks and other delights as we watch the morning set in. We have always been blessed with beautiful weather for this trip and this year was no exception. The sun was shining and the day bright.

Isn't this the cutest tasting room? It was so cozy inside! (Mattebella Winery)

Succulent Sue at Mattebella Vineyard

The boys at Mattebella~Don't you just love that barn wood table?

They thought of everything here~bread, water in pretty glasses and yes, even frosted brownies!

The first winery we visited was Mattebella, named after the owners children. Honestly, upon our arrival in the parking lot I don’t think we pictured such a quaint tasting room. It was like a little cottage with a modern decorating twist (my favorite style). The wood floors were beautifully stained a dark, rich brown making it ever so cozy. There was a long, rustic farm table with bench seating which added to the farmhouse/cottage vibe and the small, white leather couches created a fresh touch. I just loved it! We learned of how the vineyard came to be and how popular the outdoor patio is in the summer.

We ended up visiting all of these wineries (and I think I may be forgetting a few~I will blame my memory lapse on the vino!). The websites have lovely descriptions of the wine and more pictures than I could ever share here.

Sue and I were beyond excited to learn that the Winemaker’s Studio was right next to White Flower Farmhouse!!! We both follow their blogs (they have two) and are in love with all the vintage items they sell there. It was quite a delight to actually see it in person. We each left with treasures and had plenty of time to shop while the boys relaxed next door at the Winemaker’s Studio (which also happens to serve beer~FYI). It was PERFECT!

Sue bought me one of these AWESOME ball jars! We had a hard time deciding which one to choose as they were all so beautiful!

We ended our trip at Sherwood House, a place we had visited before and loved for the rustic coziness and grande stone fireplace. We sipped our wine while enjoying live music fireside. You felt like you were at home with friends on a magical night.

I am filled up with the splendor and magic of the day. Even traveling just a little bit off your beaten path can give you such a sense of adventure. This part of Long Island felt like I was in another world and I will hold my memories of the day and the people I was with dear to my heart.

With gratitude & love,

Laura

p.s. Where are your favorite places to visit? We all create our own adventures and we would love to hear about yours. You are invited to share in the comments below. Who knows, you might just inspire someone to create an adventure of their own!

p.s.s. Find out how these adventures feed into my artwork in a upcoming post. Here is a sneak peek:

The tiniest hint of a new painting. ©laura gaffke 2012

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Valentine Gift

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Laura&Tina

Some people argue that Valentine’s Day is a Hallmark holiday. I see that commercialism side to it but this year I want to focus on it as a day of awareness of the most important of human qualities- our ability to love. As I age I see that this is the only thing that matters. Really.

Below is an excerpt from Thich Nhat Hanh’s book Peace Is Every Day.

“The meditation on love is not just sitting still and visualizing that our love will spread out into space like waves of sound or light. Sound and light have the ability to penetrate everywhere, and love and compassion can do the same. It is in the midst of our daily life and in our actual contact with others that we can know whether our mind of love is really present. The source of love is deep in us, and we can help others realize a lot of happiness. One word, one action, or one thought can reduce another person’s suffering and bring him or her joy. One word can give comfort and confidence, destroy doubt, help someone avoid a mistake, reconcile a conflict, or open the door to liberation. If love is in our heart, every thought, word, and deed can bring about a miracle.”

One thought, one word. I will look for my opportunity to genuinely show another my deepest love. I won’t purchase anything for anyone this year, but instead give this simple gift. I hope you do too.

tina

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One Little Word 2012

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Laura&Tina

Dear Friends,

Ali Edwards has developed a simple project that we would like to hop on board and ride. It is called “One Little Word”. She has been doing this project and actively engaging her readers since 2007. As quoted from her website:

A single word can be a powerful thing. It can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything. It can be sharp and biting or rich and soft and slow. From my own personal experience, it can be a catalyst for enriching your life.

Last year Tina’s word was ‘steadfast’ and Laura’s was ‘mindfully aware’.

Below are our thoughts & “one little WORD” for 2012.

Dear Tina,

I really thought my WORD for 2012 was going to be LISTEN but as I started to journal more (which I had not been making the time for lately by the way) I realized that in order to truly listen I need to make room in my life and clear the mental and physical clutter that holds me back and keeps my mind weighed down. Alyson Stanfield calls these things “tolerations”, meaning anything that holds you back and keeps you from moving forward.

I have so many unfinished projects around my house as well as belongings that no longer serve me which are cluttering up my life. This is the year to release them! My hope is that by doing this I create room for new things to come into my life. What I visualize is a thriving art business, abundance, joy, time with family and friends as well as an inspired home. If you haven’t guessed it yet, my WORD for this year is ORGANIZE. I plan to share my progress with you and hopefully we can all inspire each other. Here is to a FABULOSO start of the new year!

love, Laura

Dear Laura,

Last year I did stay true to my ‘steadfast’ word. I remained steadfast with my convictions in my art practice, trained, tried-out, and made the roller derby team, continued honing my teaching practice at the college level, and consistently held my children and spouse as my primary priority through a busy year of work.

This year, my little word is HEALTH. Now that I am training my body on a regular basis as an active skater on the Lowcountry Highrollers team (I just made the Allstar team) by skating competitively four times a week, weight training and cross training, I have recently realized that my body needs a different nutrition plan for fuel. I am researching and changing my whole diet. Actually, in a recent visit with my doctor, she advised me to look at the South Beach Diet for it’s nutritional guide. She said it is one of the few diet plans that have been researched and proven for cardiovascular and overall long-term health (even Weight Watchers follows this diet). By including better nutrition I hope to build muscle, endurance, and energy.

I also see this word guiding me in my emotional, spiritual, and creative health as well. I have worked out how HEALTH will factor into my physical body this year, but will continue pondering and revisiting these other aspects as the year progresses.

Tina

(aka TNTina when I skate)

My first bout December 2011

We encourage you too to go over to Ali’s website, read about the little word project, and leave your very own little word in her comment section. If you did so and want to share it with us too, we would like to hear it.

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MY how my work has changed…REALLY?

Posted on November 6, 2011 by Laura&Tina

Laura's working table 10/6/2011

I have to say I am a little in love with the new mixed media pieces I have been working on…

Probably since July I have been working on a complete website makeover (super pumped about this!). I am finding it VERY time consuming yet addictive and gratifying. It is a creative process all it’s own and an ongoing learning curve for me with technology. I have enjoyed not only “freshening it up” but looking back at my work with a critical eye, editing and making good choices about how I wish to represent myself and share my current work. It has been fun to see where I have been and how much I have grown in the past few years. You can expect to see a more streamlined look, a lot of new paintings, a press page (I have press now!) and a few other surprises! It interests me how my color palette has exploded over the past few years, yet I continue to be preoccupied with the same themes and artistic intention~ joyful moments and paying attention to the simple beauty that surrounds me.

I am currently working on a series of six mixed media collages for the Hygienic Gallery’s “Art=Gift” show. The shows opening reception is the evening of Saturday, November 19th and runs through December 24th and you can consider yourself invited!

Here are three of the six mixed media pieces:

©Laura Gaffke, "Colorful Pear I", mixed media, 6 x 6 inches 2011

©Laura Gaffke, "Colorful Pear II", mixed media, 6 x 6 inches 2011

©Laura Gaffke, "Colorful Pear III", mixed media, 6 x 6 inches 2011

I started them by spending a few days painting old book pages with rich and funky patterns (of course there are plenty of tiny polka dots~ some things never change). I honestly had a hard time cutting up my papers as I loved them so much just on their own.

Laura's painted book pages

The papers were then used in the collages.

My inspiration came from looking back on the older work as I revamped my website. I painted “Conversation” (the painting below) some time ago. It was a transitional painting for me, painted at a time when I was struggling between a more traditional, representational style of painting and finding my own “voice” for my work.

©Laura Gaffke "Conversation" watercolor, 12" x 14"

I look back on this painting now and see where the “roots” of my landscape painting background took hold. For the first time I trusted myself and allowed the painting to be a bit more abstract. As it turns out the print of this painting is one the most popular prints in my shop. This gives me the courage to follow my intuition and TRUST myself with the work I really want/need to create hoping that if I stay true to this that it will be well received in the world (fingers crossed!). These new pear collages are a reflection of my continuous experimentation with materials and showcase the playfulness of life I wish to share with you.

paintings on easels

side view of painting

Each painting was created on a deep set wood panel. I painted the sides of each one and hand stamped old script on top of that to give a little unexpected interest, texture and reflect a sense of nostalgia.

I have three more I just finished that I can’t wait to photograph and share with you! Which one is your favorite? I would love to know…xoLaura

p.s. Stay tuned for my NEW WEBSITE SOON~ WHooo Hooo! Can’t wait!!!

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What is a SOULFUL landscape?

Posted on July 26, 2011 by Laura&Tina

Laura Gaffke, "Fanciful Day" acrylic, 6 x 6 inches © the artist 2011

Soulful Landscapes…What does that mean exactly? Coming from a traditional landscape background I very much appreciate the technical detail and effort that goes into a realistic rendering of something. But what stirs my senses and gets me to stop and look a little longer at a piece of art is when I can feel the soul of the artist in the work. Sometimes it is with the artists use of color, the texture, composition, or the way it is abstracted and thought about. More often than not it is a spiritual connection I cannot describe. The artist has bared something of themselves that allows me to connect on deeper level.

I get SO excited when this happens, like finding the art of Lynne Drexler while visiting Monhegan Island.

Lynne Drexler, Untitled, 1960oil on canvas 22 x 26 inches

Lynne Drexler, Untitled, 1960oil on canvas30 x 36 inches

I just fell in love with her work and have been researching her, along with many other artists for my new class, Soulful Landscapes. Preparing for this class has allowed me to delve deeper into Contemporary Landscape painting and explore artists I may never have thought of. These artists have enlivened me with their innovation and the thought they reveal in their work. I have found I am seduced by many of the artist’s use of color. I am passionate about color. What a surprise, right? Taking the time to look closely and learn from other artists is a necessary part of growing in both my teaching and within my own work. I might see a color combination I like or learn something about what the artist was trying to say by spending time with them. It makes me take a critical look at my own work and see where my ideas are taking me.

Right now I am very much in a summertime mode and have been thinking about the colors of summer. It really is my favorite time of year! What can be better than living on the shoreline, boating, having weekend guests, painting outdoors, gardening, farmer’s markets, long walks at the beach, meaningful conversations around campfires, hot zinnias, swimming, Jimmy Buffett, “boat drinks” and good friends to share it with?

Laura Gaffke, "Succulent Summer", 6 x 6 inches mixed media © the artist 2011

If you are interested in my Soulful Landscape class please let me know. You will learn about Contemporary Landscape painters as a catalyst to finding your own unique voice as an artist, whether that be representational, abstract or a mix of both! This class starts TOMORROW and I can hardly wait! Details can be found on my website.

What are your favorite summertime activities? Would love to hear from you!

love, Laura

p.s. Our NEWSLETTER comes out this week and is packed with great information about the creativity and how nature can be used to influence your artwork. Sign up in the sidebar on the right.

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What do FIGS have to do with anything?

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Laura&Tina

delicious italian coffee

Visiting Monhegan Island last week was such a treat! My friend Amy, whom I met on my Italian adventure made the whole experience of visiting Maine a gem of a trip. A package arrived the week before I left, complete with maps of the area, “moose lip balm,” “moose mints” and a nice note letting me know how much she was looking forward to our trip. How FUN! I could hardly wait to hit the road with Millie.

Our trip to Maine was to mark the first annual “Fig Society” gathering. What is the Fig Society you may ask? Well, the name was coined by all of the wonderful new friends I met in Italy last September for my workshop. (You can read more about it HERE) I personally had never tasted fresh figs before this and they soon became a morning staple for all of us at breakfast. Somehow knowing we would be greeted each morning with coffee & croissants served with nutella and fresh figs served on a veranda overlooking the Mediterranean Sea made the 150 stair hike up the side of the cliffs worth the trouble! It was here that we would get to know each other. By the end of our trip we had come to lovingly call ourselves “The Fig Society”.

Joan Harlow in her studio

While on Monhegan we visited several artists studios. The island is a haven for artists who generously allow you to step into their studios to have a peek into their creative world. The first artist we met was the lovely Joan Harlow who graciously opened her studio to us when we arrived early for her studio hours. I guess we were on “island time,” completely clueless as to the hour! She had the cutest studio overlooking the water. Can you imagine this view for your studio?!? We talked of how she came to be painting on the island and what she loves about the work.

Joan's studio

Joan took this painting outside so we could see it in the magical light Monhegan is known for. Such an arresting interpretation!

artist studio

Seeing as it was such a hot day Millie & I stopped for a little beverage. Just the perfect size to take with us to the next studio!

Coronitas on a hot day! The perfect size for sipping

Don’t you just LOVE the entrance to this artist’s garden? (on the right)

*need to get this artists name

I loved this artists work! We learned that she works intuitively on Yupo paper, creating vivid abstractions. My artist friend Diana Sartor uses this paper with THE MOST interesting results. You might remember the collaboration we did together? Although she didn’t use Yupo paper for our collaborative piece you can get a little flavor for her work. In fact, just recently visiting her studio I was blown away with the colored inks she is using on this paper. She is able to use a variety of techniques to get a wide range of textures. We may have to schedule a studio visit so she can show me how to use it. What do you think Diana?

The fabulous Millie Donovan buying some art

It is hard to resist the whimsical fish in Mike Stiller’s garden which lead you in to the gallery he shares with his wife.

Mike Stiller's cute fish

Mike Stiller's artwork

Mike Stiller's cute birds! I love how they are popping out of the wall!

The last artist I want to share is Stan Moeller, one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE teachers. I had taken many classes with Stan while living in NH and was delighted when I sat down for dinner at the Monhegan House and looked up to find his gorgeous paintings on the wall above me! I hadn’t seen his work in some time and was blown away at how much it had changed! He is both a gifted artist and teacher. Here are a few pictures of his work. The first painting is the interior of the restaurant where we ate. How cool is that?

©Stan Moeller, "Breakfast at the Monhegan"

©Stan Moeller, "Shades" 9 x 12

I LOVE the perspective, the way the shadows dance and the pops of color in this painting.

©Stan Moeller "Angel in Florence" (Street mime in Firenze) 24x12 oil on linen

Can you stand how cool this woman’s skirt is?!?!?

©Stan Moeller "In the Pinkberry" 18 x 18 oil on panel

Of course I LOVE the bright pops of color in this painting.

I would love to be the girl in this painting. Quiet afternoon at the beach…The color is so lush!

I love how he captured this moment.

It is such a small world! When I contacted Stan about using his images for the blog he wrote back and told me that he had been in Rockland, Maine recently and thought he had seen me. As it turns out it was THE SAME day I had been there visiting the Rockland galleries! How weird is that?!?!? We hadn’t even planned on going but it was so foggy we decided to take the later ferry to Monhegan and went out exploring. It is another reminder to be open to where things lead you. I am grateful for reconnecting with Stan and for the generous use of his paintings as well as all the other artists who shared their time with us. Happy day to everyone! love, Laura

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A new way to think about CREATIVITY

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Laura&Tina

I have been a long admirer of Elizabeth Gilbert and really appreciated her perspective on creative genius. How many of you have had this experience? Such a juicy topic for conversation! Hope to start one…Laura

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Laura’s California Working Table

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Laura&Tina

A welcome "sign" of things to come!

As many of you know I went to California for a “Bloom True” painting workshop with Flora Bowley. I was hoping to attend Flora’s workshop at SAW in NH, (MUCH closer) but unfortunately for me (good for Flora!), her workshop filled just as quickly as it was posted. I was feeling a little deflated and decided to see if she was doing workshops anywhere else close by. As it turned out she was going to be in Berkely, CA (NOT close!). It was already in the works for me to visit my friend Marlene in Oakland, CA and I hadn’t booked my tickets yet. The dates worked perfect and I was giddy with anticipation but when I went to register for the class I was informed by sweet Stef at the Teahouse Studio that Flora’s workshop had filled! What are the chances, right? I was put on their waiting list and kept my fingers crossed. I cannot explain it, but I just had a knowing I would get into this class and I did! I guess all the “visualizing” worked! (You may laugh but I firmly believe your thoughts create your destiny!)

My "working table" at Flora's workshop! I loved using all the rich colors and painting with sponges!

Everything about this workshop was glorious! I had no idea what to expect and can often be a little anxious yet filled up with all of the “unknowns”: not knowing the area, not knowing anyone in the workshop, wondering if my paints arrived on time~not to mention whether my painting skills would be up to par this weekend! This is why I love taking workshops. They always ground me and remind me how it feels to be a student. Anything new can be intimidating and it is good to be mindful of how I felt so I can share this experience within my own teaching. I think we put expectations on ourselves and often need to be reminded that there are no mistakes, just learning experiences.

I met such wonderful lovelies! We were warmly greeted by the “Teahouse ladies,” Sefanie, Mati & Tiffany on a glorious sunny morning. They made us feel right at home with coffee, tea and goodies while we took in their beautiful, airy, light-filled studio. These gals shared how this was only their second workshop at the Teahouse but you would never know it with their organization, kindness and attention to detail. This studio was a dream of theirs and I must say it was inspiring to see it all come together for them! You would LOVE taking a workshop here!

This show the spaciousness of the Teahouse Studio. We were all focused watching Flora work her magic!

I had set an intention for myself before I arrived that I wasn’t going to compare myself to anyone so I uncharacteristically placed myself on a wall where my back was to everyone. My hope was to totally immerse myself in my own work and hopefully resist my inner critic. I hate it when she comes out!

"I paint with ease" was my mantra for the weekend and I believe it worked as I was SO unbelievably relaxed painting!

This workshop was inspiring on so many levels. The energy was great, everyone painted so freely and Flora was amazingly generous sharing her many techniques. I think this was the first workshop I have ever taken where I felt like I could paint for hours after the workshop ended. Usually I am exhausted and in need of a glass of wine~ha! (who am I kidding, maybe I still had the glass of wine!) There is still so much I need to process and wish to share from this experience, I believe when you step out of your normal routine and comfort zone the world opens you up on so many levels. I am presently filled with inspiration and ideas galore and can’t wait to share the TWO finished paintings from the workshop with you!

More soon…xoLaura

p.s. I will leave you with Flora’s demo painting, which I just LOVE! Hard to believe she did this as a demo, right?

Flora Bowley's FABULOUS painting!

Detail of Flora Bowley's painting! SO great, right?

What artists are inspiring you today?

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energy is Love…for Japan

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Laura&Tina

Laura Gaffke, "energy is Love" mixed media painting 5 x 7 inches

I was teaching at the Holderness School in NH for their Artward Bound program when the tsunami hit Japan. Everything about that moment felt surreal to me. I was staying at a faculty members apartment whom I had never met, rooming with her two delightful kitties named “Black cat” & “White cat,” schlepping around in the snow, then mud, then snow again (it’s true what they say about New England~”if you don’t like the weather, wait a minute”), active in juicy conversation, new friends and the “Holderness Culture.” Due to my busy schedule I don’t think I turned on the TV once while I was there and was rarely online. I felt like I was in my own little bubble, oblivious to the “outside world.” When I finally saw the images of the tsunami on my computer I could not believe my eyes! Even still, I felt like I had little time to process what I was seeing while I was there.

Now that I am home I have allowed myself to let it sink in, feeling such empathy and love for all of those people, each with their own personal story. Initially I felt helpless, wishing I could be there to help in some way or had an abundance of money I could send to help with their recovery. Since that is is not my reality right now I began to think of what I could do. Inspired by a post written by Marisa of Creative Thursday I began to think about how I too have always believed in the power of putting love and goodness into the world so decided I too would create a painting with this intention.

The painting above is called, energy is love and will be for sale in our Etsy shop. I will be donating 50% of the sale of this painting to the Red Cross in support of Japan and will soon have giclee prints available. Five dollars from each print will be offered as a donation in addition.

While at Holderness I was able to witness the most AMAZING poetry from the students who were taking Kahlil Almustafa’s workshop. I will leave you with a little glimmer of hope and love written by Kangdi Wang. Thank you Kangdi for allowing me to share your moving poem here. It went straight to my heart as I am sure it will yours as well. ~Laura

Standing

The world was dark.

The earth was shaking.

The buildings were collapsing.

The bodies were cold.

The water was filling the space.

A person stood up.

A bunch of people stood up.

They held their hands together.

Shoulder next to shoulder.

As a wall in front of the water.

People fell, fell over, fell down, fell off.

However, none fell back.

And none fell behind.

The more fell, the more rose.

Billions of people, unite as one.

A lot of things are going on, fire, water, shaking earth, living volcanoes and strong winds. What an Ending.

Comparing to these, humans are tiny.

Like ants fighting elephants.

But sometimes the giants aren’t the main characters.

They are the background props of the tines.

This is a tragedy, a real tragedy.

But every scene is touching, is warm.

The audience is moved, stand up.

The staff is touched, walk to the front-stage.

However, there is no clapping.

There is no more politics or social levels.

Not even laws.

Everything is simple in front of the law of nature.

Unstoppable.

Undefeatable.

Up until now, my story is almost finished.

The earth is shaking.

The buildings are collapsing.

The water is flowing.

But still, someone is standing.

Laura Gaffke

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Can ART change your perception?

Posted on March 27, 2011 by Laura&Tina

Can art change the WORLD?

How about your PERCEPTION?

I ABSOLUTELY loved this video from the TED talks and wanted to share it with you. This little french artist JR is SO inspiring! I would love to know if your perception of street art shifted after watching this. I especially love the work he did towards the end. Fascinating! Anyone interested in starting a local Inside Out project? What would YOU like to reveal to the world?

Happy day to YOU!

Laura

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The Invitation…

Posted on February 19, 2011 by Laura&Tina

Dear Tina & Friends,

I was talking with my cousin the other day who reminded me of this poem, “The Invitation” by Oriah. I kept it glued to the first page of one of my old journals and read it at least once a week for a year. It was the poem I shared for my last “Creative Flow” class. They loved it so much I thought I would share it with you. Do any of the phrases strike a chord with you? Do you have a favorite poem? If so we would love if you were willing to share them in the comments below. THANKS!

Cheery smiles your way…Laura

The Invitation by Oriah
It doesn’t interest me
what you do for a living.
I want to know
what you ache for
and if you dare to dream
of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me
how old you are.
I want to know
if you will risk
looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me
what planets are
squaring your moon…
I want to know
if you have touched
the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened
by life’s betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know
if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know
if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you
to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations
of being human.

It doesn’t interest me
if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear
the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know
if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”

It doesn’t interest me
to know where you live
or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me
who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centrer of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me
where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know
what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know
if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like
the company you keep
in the empty moments.

By Oriah
from the book

The Invitation