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Portland, Oregon – Beautiful, Historic & Creative
For anyone who has been watching the news this past year or two, Portland, Oregon has had a rough go, image wise… but I’m here to dispel any myths or thoughts you may have. This beautiful Pacific Northwest city is amazing for countless reasons but my number one reason is for the sheer CREATIVE ENERGY and fodder it can provide. “Portland is a town of rugged individualists sprinkled with weirdness. It commends uniqueness and praise all types of entrepreneurs and creators, yet also has a strong commitment to community. The city embraces its industrial past, while also promoting progressive environmental ideas and sustainable practices. Portland exudes a strong sense of…
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Wanderlust Portland – New Creative Travel Book!
I am so proud to announce the 4th book in my Wanderlust Creative Travel Guide series is here – Wanderlust Portland!!! Welcome to the club. This book will not only teach you a little history of one of the many vibrant neighborhoods of Portland but also provide a creative lens in which to explore! Each chapter has an interactive activity associated with it to really get you engaged with your surroundings in a whole new way! There is also a journal section for you to record the details of your own experiences, places you visited, quotes you hear, doodles from your day. With summer almost upon us, it’s time to…
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Creative Wanderlust Prompt: Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan. It’s definitely one of my favorite places in all of New York City, and the area I frequently stay when I visit. When I lived in New York City many moons ago, I rarely went to midtown. I was a student (in graduate school) and midtown catered to the working world. I did go to Grand Central Station frequently as I’d take the train out to Connecticut to visit my sister, but in general, I roamed all the other neighborhoods for my NYC energy, not midtown. Fast forward to today, and I can’t get enough of midtown Manhattan. It fuels me with energy. I’m convinced it’s because of…
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Learn How to Draw a Pot of Shamrocks – 20 Minute Free Art Lesson
I love shamrocks! They remind me of not only spring time, but also my mom! Every March, she would bring home a pot of shamrocks for my siblings and I to put in our room. They are a simple yet fabulous house plant to have (for all ages), as they are extremely easy to maintain. They grow and flower very quickly which can be very satisfying for those without a green thumb. Hunting for a four leaf clover in the bunch was always fun too- as I am confident it definitely brought me good luck! To celebrate spring, follow along with my step by step, 20 minute art lesson as…
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Seeing Green in Ireland and Northern Ireland
It only takes a few moments upon arrival in Ireland to realize why the country is nicknamed the Emerald Isle. Green is everywhere – vibrant, refreshing, rich greens, in every hue. One of my favorite creativity prompts while traveling is color. It’s such a simple idea, yet can truly open your eyes to seeing so much more than you expect when you explore a location! The goal is to choose a color in the morning before you head out, then when touring, be on the look out for it. When you see it, take a quick picture on your phone. At the end of the day, you can create a…
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15 Minute Art Lesson: Learn How to Draw a Historic New Orleans Home
Follow along with this ~15 minute lesson and learn how to draw a New Orleans Garden District house, the Morris-Israel Home. We will virtually travel to NOLA where I will tell you a little about the house. Then, I will teach you a doodle approach to drawing the iron work sometimes called “iron lace” to give the impression of intricacy yet with a loose impressionistic approach. Following this lesson will not only show you how to draw this specific New Orleans home, but also teach your techniques to be able to draw houses and building around the world with similar ornate ironwork detailing. Be sure to share this video and…
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15 Minute Art Lesson: Paint a Ski Mountain
It’s hard to find time to create art. I get it! Even though this is my profession, I can find it challenging too, yet devoting just 10 or 15 minutes can make me feel so good! I’ll be releasing a bunch of new short art lesson videos on You Tube over the next coming months with this heuristic in mind – quick, fun, easy 10-20 minute art lessons you can do and feel great about the outcome. First up, painting a ski mountain! Learn How to Paint a Ski Mountain Painting snow in watercolor can be quite challenging, as snow is inherently white, and although white does appear in many…
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What Do Your Passport Stamps Mean to You – Creative Wanderlust Photography Prompt
What does your passport mean to you? Does it represent checkmarks on your bucket list or something else? I’d love to hear. I just sent off my passport to get renewed and must admit, always get a little nervous when it is mailed off. My passport represents much more than a form of identification. It fuels my curiosity and soul – the people I meet, the cultures I learn about, the nature I see, the stories I hear. It also represents my heritage, my home country and my own cultural identity. I could go on and on how this one document is so meaningful to me, but it boils down…
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Creative Wanderlust Prompt: Passport
It’s interesting to me how a document such as a passport can represent so much to me. It is not only a form of identification, but it also shares my nationality and home country to the world. It houses stamps of so many stories of adventure- travel triumphs, travel failures, the loved ones I’ve traveled with and all the people I’ve met along the way. For many it’s a badge of honor, providing others with proof of where you have been. For me, it’s less about the proof and more about the ability to be able to travel, explore this incredible world, meet new people, be exposed to new cultures…
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Creative Wanderlust Prompt List: Suitcase
Pack your bags! This week we are going to creatively explore the word suitcase! A suitcase can mean so many things beyond just the obvious! Just watch a family’s dog when the suitcases come out of the closet and start to get packed! (The dogs in my life have all not enjoyed the site of suitcases! 😂) For me, a suitcase obviously means travel!! Whether an overnight or an international trip. Just think other things suitcases mean- what type of “suitcase” would one use for a trek in the Himalayas vs. a suitcase packed for a long weekend in NYC? And the other interesting thing- have you ever thought of…
