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I just completed the 2026 Open Studios Tour, and once again I was reminded just how special this event is. As a visual artist, it is rare when you are with people viewing your artwork. Most of the time you work in a vacuum. If you post on social media, you can get responses to photos of your work, but it's just not the same.

To have another person tell you how your work affects them this is priceless. That's the whole reason artists create, to make a connection with the world and share our stories. People asking about your process is so validating, it means what you've done is worthy of someone's curiosity and interest.

It's a lot of work hanging all of my paintings throughout my house, promoting the tour and preparing to have visitors. And this year I decided to add a private preview party to the mix, which was so much fun and extremely rewarding. But all of that effort completely paid off the moment a fellow artist described how she perceived one of my pieces, and her words were exactly my intent in creating it. And that was only the beginning of a weekend full of validation, revelation and connection.

Thank you to everyone who made it by my studio and gave me the gift of sharing my artistic journey.

Lesson #126 - art in person is not only ideal for the viewer, it is so special for the artist when they get to be there