An Enchanted Place

I got back yesterday from Sea Ranch, a wonderful spot on the Northern California coast where my future mother-in-law now lives full-time. I have mentioned this place before, as we visit pretty often, and it is a breath of fresh air.

You could say that all of Sea Ranch is an enchanted place—the community has made a large effort to keep the area natural with abundant common lands that lend themselves to deer spotting, an amazing number of architecturally interesting homes, and of course, the wild, natural Pacific Ocean, visible from almost everyplace.

But recently, I discovered the most amazing building/dwelling/abode that I have ever seen. It’s the type of little place I must have passed by several times and missed, just by turning my head. But now that I’ve found it and been inside, it’s seems heretical not to have known it sooner.

This place is the Sea Ranch Chapel. I am not a religious person—as so many stories go, I was brought up with a Catholic background which I have now abandoned completely. I don’t believe in any particular God. Maybe I believe in many little gods, or some big essence or power, but we’ll leave religion for another day.

I want to take you on a tour of this amazingly inspirational place, perhaps the one “church” I would ever consider visiting as a habit or routine.

The chapel is set back from the road, so as I said, you could easily miss it just by turning your head. But once you see it and process it, any curious person would wonder, “what is such a fairytale dwelling doing in this world?” It looks like a place for fairies and elves.

As you can find out on the website, this “non-denominational sanctuary for prayer, mediation, and spiritual renewal” was the gift of two Sea Ranch residents. I think these people must have been artists or incredible patrons of the arts, because such an amazing gift could only ever be given by someone who really values creative and inspirational space. If ever I saw a building that is a work of art, it is this one.

A San Diego artist and architectural designer by the name of James Hubbel is responsible for all of this creativity. Hubbel not only designed the chapel, but he designed and crafted the windows, doors, chandelier and many other little details. He received a “Special Award for Excellence in Craftsmanship” from the California Council of the American Institute of Architects in 1985 for his work, with special emphasis on this chapel.

The most amazing thing about this chapel is that Hubbel made every detail into a work of art. The more you look, the more you see, from the mosaics in the floor, to the rustic wood crafting, and delicate stained glass windows.

Because the chapel is solely dedicated to private meditation and prayer, you can often find it empty and spend time sitting there alone, soaking up the quiet and opening up your mind.

I feel lucky to have stumbled upon this little enchanted place. It feels like a space in honor of creativity, maybe a shrine to creation, both large and small. As I’m so often inclined to think in metaphors, this place feels like a metaphor for the life I want to create—there is thought and intention in every corner, a great appreciation for small beauties, and creativity and inspiration all around.

Twinkle Twinkle

Just a short note wishing all of you a bright and twinkling holiday! I will be soaking up the holiday cheer on the northern California coast, Sea Ranch to be exact, with my fiance’s family. I am wishing you so much joy, peace, and love, and as always, lots of good food! I promise to be back next week, with more drawings and such!

Little Reminders at last!

Finally, finally, finally I got my little reminders into my shop! First, I was having trouble getting them printed, and then, since the craft show, I have been putting off photographing them, due to the poor light of these gray winter days and my procrastination about photographing artwork in general.

I still have not nailed down photographing artwork. It’s a challenge, and it is definitely one of those things for me, that feels like I can never completely succeed at! It’s so funny, I actually come from a photography background, so you’d think I know something. But maybe that’s why I get so defeated—I think I should know how to do it well, so I give up really easily.

Enough of my whining. Maybe I need a reminder myself, “breathe!” So, these and these little reminders that you might remember from what seems like an eternity ago, are available now, in my shop. Get a cute set for yourself, and send a few to your friends! Or, just see below, and be reminded!

Abstract Sunday

It’s another rainy Sunday, and I’m feeling a bit restless. Luckily, yesterday there was sunshine, but we’ve been having a pretty gray string of weeks. This weather makes me realize how much effect the weather has on my mood.

Despite the grays, I managed to put a few lines to paper (that little paper I’ve been talking about). Here is the product of this abstract Sunday (available in my shop):

“Through,” 4 x 4 inches, pen and ink

Alphabet Soup

You may think I’m a little nuts, but do you ever find yourself inspired by paper?

In my local art store recently, I saw a mini 6 x 6 inch pad of my favorite drawing paper, Bristol Vellum, and I got so excited by the small square size that I had to buy it. I knew that just looking at a small white square in front of me would make me excited to draw. It’s the simple things—thank you Strathmore for making that cute little pad! Here’s the first product of this delightful little paper:

“Alphabet Soup,” 4 x 4 inches, pen and ink (available in my shop)

I cannot tell a lie, the drawing here was not completely inspired by the paper. I started out with an 8 x 10 sheet today and the intention to draw a second alphabet. The general swirling idea developed there, but something went awry with that composition. So, I moved to my new pad intending to do something different, but the swirling alphabet just felt right on this paper. It’s funny how things happen. I am constantly reminded that art is about the process.

In the beginning

I have two little nephews in Colorado, and one of my greatest privileges as Aunt is to buy them art supplies. Can you think of a more fun present to buy? Paints and markers and colorful papers—all of the fun and messy thing most people grew out of, when the grew up.

I suppose that is one of the best things about being an artist—you can be messy and colorful—it’s almost expected that you will get paint on the floor. But as a kid, it’s definitely expected, so it’s even more fun. And kids have no fear, they just start slopping the paint on, they are enthralled by the color on the page, the way the paint feels on their hands, the marks they can make on the paper.

My 4 and 1/2 year old nephew Simon is just learning his letters, and I was lucky enough to receive one of his handmade holiday cards this year, hand signed:

(front)

(back)

I would say this is the beginning of a budding career in hand typography, don’t you think?!

When I was visiting for Thanksgiving, Simon would ask how to draw a certain letter, and his mom or I would try to describe how it looked, or draw it in the air. He is in such a great stage—one where he is really excited by letters and still really thinking about how each one is formed.

Once we get past this stage and don’t have to think about how to make letters, we just start writing and never really think about it again. Doing hand typography, or any typography for that matter (maybe any art) forces you to try and go back to that stage of not knowing, of really thinking about what you’re doing. You almost have to unlearn what they taught you in school.

It’s a wonderful experience, perhaps the one I live for—when you are able to forget what everyone told you and it’s just you, the paper, and the pen. But it can also be really hard to let go. Those moments are a simple miracle when they happen.

Do you have any “zen moment” art stories? I’d love to hear them! Post a comment!

***Thanks to Simon for supplying the artwork for this post! You’re the best!

The Coming New Year

The new year is coming, and with it there often comes a moment of re-evaluation. Why is it that most of us feel like the turning of the calendar is the best time to evaluate our lives? I really don’t know, but even though I’m not much into diligent resolutions, and I seem to be evaluating my life much, much more than just once a year (try once a week, maybe once a day!), I thought it would be fun to sum up some things that I am always striving for in a word drawing.

So, here it is, my new year’s resolution of sorts (available in my shop):

“New Year’s Resolution,” 8 x 10 inches, pen and ink

Craft Show Photos

I’m finally back and here to share photos of the craft show I sold at last Saturday.

The front of my table

From the side, with a customer!

The ingenious mobile my fiance Mike created for my table, out of my broken bike wheel!

The whole experience was a lot of fun, and the Indie Sacramento girls are starting to organize monthly craft shows starting in January! Check out the link above for details. I hope to be selling with them again soon!

Holiday and Winter Cards!

My craft show went off with a bang yesterday—I’m happy to say things sold pretty well, and the experience was all around fun! Unfortunately, I am still not out of my busyness as my final website for my web design class still needs a lot of work, and it’s due in two days. So I will share pictures from my show later this week. Right now, I am here on business.

I just put some holiday cards in my shop, and I wanted to share them with you. I realize Christmas is just around the corner, but in addition to a Christmas card set, I also have a Winter set available, which could be fun to send for any occasion, or just to use as a note card during this colder season. Check out my shop if you’re interested. I’m selling each design in a set of 6.

“Merry,” a Christmas greeting card

“Winter Poem,” a Winter greeting card

Crunch Time

Well, it’s crunch time here in Davis, California. I’m back from a wonderful Thanksgiving trip back to Colorado to visit my family (complete with my 1.5 year old nephew dancing and wearing sunglasses upside down), and I’m making the final push on preparing for the Indie Sacramento craft show this weekend.

I have greeting cards, buttons, and prints, oh my! So, I’ve been signing and sticking and packaging my heart out, as well as trying to do my final project for my web design class, due next week! I am looking forward to a restful time later in this month, but I’m also pretty excited about the craft show.

If you’re in the area, please come out and support local artists, and pick up some great handmade gifts too! See the details below. I will try to get back to this blog this week, but my regrets if I do not. I will really make a comeback at the end of next week, I promise! Stay tuned for new items in my shop—I’ve gotten lots of fun ideas from preparing for this show!