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Home
About
- My Story
- Resume
- Schedule
- Blog
Art
Book & Cards
- Painting the Feminine Book
- Paint Wisdom Cards
In Person Events
- RETREATS
- WORKSHOPS
  - Mysterious Faces
  - POETIC
Mentorship
eCourses
- Online Workshops
- Self-Guided eCourses
Contact
Login

Shadows

Drawings | Pen & Ink On Paper

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Into-The-Darkness-2-1

Into-The-Darkness-8-1

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Into-The-Darkness-16-1-600x944

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Into-The-Darkness-12-1

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I’ve been spending most of my morning taking pho

I’ve been spending most of my morning taking photos of old & new work. This is a part of my studio practice I tend to drag my feet around. But last month David & Pennylane of @dazed.and.confucius both presented EXCELLENT seminars to the artists in my mentorship program. We all learned so much & David actually made me excited to take photos of my work using the tips I learned from his seminar.

#studiopractice #dayinthelifeofanartist #artist #worksonpaper #keepingitreal #paintingsonpaper #mixedmediaart

This is my first year since 2009 (except for 2020)

This is my first year since 2009 (except for 2020) that I’m not hosting a retreat in my beloved Sedona. I’ve been sitting here sketching & thinking about that. Thinking about all the different places I took painters to sketch, the unexpected surprises that happened, & the crazy mishaps that occurred over the years too. Plus — most of all — I’m remembering the beautiful artists I’ve had the privilege of painting with here — all because one day, a much younger Connie took a big chance & put her savings down on a hefty deposit & said “Hey! Who wants to come paint FEARLESS with me in Sedona!?!”

If you are reading this & you are one of those painters that took your own big chance & traveled all the way to Sedona to paint with me — know I’m sitting here thinking of you & hey!….Sedona says “hello”! 😘☀️🎨

#sedona #sketching #sketchbook #artretreat #paintingonpaper #painting #gouache #paintfearlesssedona #paintwisdomsedona

Sinking Into Source Mixed media on paper 11” x 1

Sinking Into Source
Mixed media on paper
11” x 14”

#paintsketch #painting #mixedmediapainting #paintstudy #studiopractice

This week my online program ANCHOR came to an end

This week my online program ANCHOR came to an end & on our last Zoom call I demonstrated how, once I have a hearty handful of pieces in a growing body of work, I take time to look at them, reflect, & find interesting relationships between them. Here’s a peek at what I shared & especially the cool way some of my studies connect. 💙🌀🎨

#painting #paintsketches #worksonpaper #studiopractice #paintingonpaper #mixedmediaart

Thursday kicked off UNAPOLOGETIC, my seven weeks m

Thursday kicked off UNAPOLOGETIC, my seven weeks masterclass on making bold, experimental self-portraits. I’m so jazzed-excited-thrilled to be teaching this program & I’m loving how brave many of my painters’ work already is. Plus, I gotta admit: I think I’m teaching UNAPOLOGETIC as much for me as it is for my beautiful painters. Here’s one of my demos— it really broke something open for me. 😜🖤🎨

#unapologeticmasterclass #painting #drawing #mixedmediaart #selfportrait #portrait #worksonpaper #paintingonpaper #studiopractice

I’m back home. Back in my studio again. And back

I’m back home. Back in my studio again. And back to my obsession with blue. 💙 This little diddy was done on Zoom today during my ANCHOR program that ends next week.

#painting #paintstudy #paintingpractice #blue #mixedmediaart #sketchbook #worksonpaper

Me, and my 14 painters that attended Paint Wisdom

Me, and my 14 painters that attended Paint Wisdom ITALY, head out today. Our retreat closed last night after spending a beautiful week painting together in Puglia, Italy. I can’t quite put this experience into words just yet — so I’ll let my simple sketches I made here speak for me instead.

Thank you to the amazing support team and cooks at @masseriaspecula that took such exquisite care of us — everything was perfect! And thank you to Carlo for inviting me and my painters to stay at your magical farm house by the sea. This experience meant the absolute world to us.

Now on to Sicily I go!!! 🇮🇹💕🎨

#connieinitaly #artretreat #painting #sketchbook #pleinairpainting #sketches #fabrianosketchbook #thisartistlife

These two works in progress were made here, in Pug

These two works in progress were made here, in Puglia, Italy, during our morning painting practice at my Paint Wisdom ITALY retreat. They are definitely inspired by all the classical sculpture I soaked in last week in Florence & the blue sky I’m so smitten with here in Puglia.

Interestingly, I thought to myself this morning that the one piece, with the two faces, totally has a “Gemini” feel to it & the other piece is really giving off “Aries” vibes.

I’ve never made work based on the zodiac…but hmmmm. 🤔

#connieinitaly #paintingpractice #paintstudies #studiopractice #artretreat #painting #worksonpaper #paintingonpaper

When I was 24 years old, I came to Italy all by my

When I was 24 years old, I came to Italy all by myself for a whole month. I had finished my degree in painting & art history & there was a $200 roundtrip tickets to Milan 😳 — so I grabbed it. I was yearning to have an adventure & to see all the art I studied for years in books & slides! (Remember slides!!?!) And I have to say this was way before “Eat, Pray, Love” and way before smart phones, Google translate, AirBNB, or Google maps!! I stayed the whole time in $5 a night hostels & met people from all over the world — including other adventurous young women traveling solo! And one of the most special things that happened on that trip is that I climbed to the top of the Duomo in Florence & vowed to my Artist Soul that I would dedicate my life to her — to my painting practice — to art.

I’m proud to say I’ve kept that vow through thick & thin, ups & downs, & all the times I wanted to give up. Now, 25 years later, my whole intention for being here in Italy is to renew this vow of mine.

Last night, under a very auspicious New Moon & in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever stayed, I did just that.

One of my painters here gifted us with these sweet little sketchbooks. I filled every page with my vow, taped it shut, & glued it to the back of my Italy sketchbook for safekeeping. Here’s to another 25 years! 💕🌀🎨

#connieinitaly #sketchbook #artistsoul #painting #sketch #artretreat #thisartistlife #italy

It’s my last morning in Bari & I spent it sippin

It’s my last morning in Bari & I spent it sipping tea, enjoying the sea breeze through the window, & with my sketchbook of course. In literally one hour I will be on my way to Puglia — Paint Wisdom ITALY begins tonight. I can’t wait! 🎨🌀🩵 #connieinitaly

#sketchbook #sketching #bariitaly🇮🇹 #studiopractice #artistlife #gouache

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