Breathing and Creating

Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame

The past year has been full of art! What a whirlwind! 

My statement for this blog page, "inhaling life one day at a time," feels extremely accurate. How has it been a year since I've written? Yet I have been posting on Facebook - please check out my Jessica T. Kovan Art page and feel free to "like" it! 

I have been fortunate to share my art in two solo shows over the past year: "Daily Gratitudes" at the Janice Charach Gallery in W. Bloomfield, MI and my current show, "Fragmented Realities," which can be seen at the Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame in Lansing Michigan through the end of January. "Fragmented Realities" focuses on themes of love, life, hope, nature, family and community - or basically my life. Check it out! 

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I was extremely fortunate to have paintings juried into two international shows this year: The International Society of Acrylic Painters and the International Society of Experimental Artists (ISEA). In the ISEA show, my painting, 'The Beetnik,' received the "Most Creative in Acrylic Medium" award. What an honor!  I also currently have a painting touring the state with the Michigan Water Color Society's Traveling Show. "I Am Alive" was gifted with the "Golden Artists Colors Award." The show ends at its final venue, Studio 1219 in Port Huron on December 27th. 

As much as I enjoy visually sharing my art with others, equally gratifying to me is teaching. I loved teaching a three day workshop with a fabulous group at the Alcona Arts Retreat this past September. We focused on painting inside and outside in a gorgeous setting on an inland lake in northern Michigan. How can you beat that? I continue to teach mixed media/creativity classes in the East Lansing/Okemos area (check out my workshop page). And for those of you that know me personally, you know that I love teaching teenagers. I recently started offering one-on-one art instruction out of my studio. As with all my teaching, my emphasis is on providing an encouraging, nurturing and creative atmosphere while providing more in-depth instruction. Some times I pinch myself that my life direction has taken me this way. How did I get so lucky? 

So as I inhale life one breath at a time, I look at the Ansel Adams quote above my desk: "Life is your art. An open aware heart is your camera. A oneness with your world is your film. Your bright eyes and easy smile is your museum." My December wish for all is that in the midst of busy lives (especially at this time of year!) may you maintain an open aware heart and a oneness with your world. And find time to take deep breaths. That is my goal as well.

"Prayer flags" class