Blog

There is only one success, to be able to spend your life in your own way.

Hi Friends,
If you have not heard from me in a bit, it is because I have been down and out with Covid. After 20 months of wearing a mask, vaccine cards, restricted travel, and socialization, I finally got Covid. At the end of the pandemic!

Unfortunately, I did not get the easy case of Covid. I did not struggle with breathing but had difficulty getting out of bed for the first week. After that, I struggled with brain fog and insidious exhaustion for about three more weeks.   Honestly, the brain fog was the worst symptom. I would lay in bed at night and struggle to remember spelling the simplest words like "quiet." The correct letters would not come together. It was very disturbing.  

I spent a lot of time in bed or sitting in my favorite chair in the sun. And of course painting. The first week was hard, but I would stealth away in my studio and create between naps. All of this quiet time brought me back to thinking about the "why" in what I do.  

It seems like the pandemic has brought many people to think about the "why" in what they do. Maybe this is the same as trying to decipher the age-old question of your purpose in life.  

Many people seem to live under a "spell," doing what society or other people think they should do and ignoring a deeper calling to spend their time doing something else.

If you have that nagging feeling that you are not happy in your current life and want to make a change, then take some steps in that direction. So much misery in life comes from not trusting your own judgment. But when you find that "purpose," you cause things to happen in your life versus just letting your life be the effect of something happening to you.  

I was under the same spell for a long time. I called it being stuck behind the White Picket Fence (it is also the reason for the name of my Studio). I had a lot of wealth and the outside appearance of success, but I lived with a big hole inside. For years, maybe my whole life, I yearned to paint. But I let the other things in life pull me away. There was a misalignment between my thoughts and my actions in my life.  

If you struggle, be open to examining your current beliefs and be willing to adopt new ones that might work better for you. Integrity comes from aligning your words and actions:  It happens when you do what is truly the most important to you (not society), even if it contradicts some of what you did in the past.   

The more choices you make that follow your heart, the stronger you become. And the happier you will be.

And in making these new choices, you have to let go of the past. You can't regret or dwell on the choices you made yesterday or last year, or 30 years ago. Be confident that you made the best decisions that you could at the time, given your feelings and development in life. But let those choices go and move forward. All you really have is the present moment.

Even though change is hard, in totality, my life became easier when I listened to my heart. The yearning to create won't be appeased unless I spend a few hours in my studio. So I have no regrets in deciding to devote myself full-time to painting - a different life for most of us is just one decision away.  

Back to Covid and my little birds - during my struggles with Covid, I returned to images of birds as I thought about what I wanted to create. Who doesn't love the beginning of spring when the early morning sweet song of the birds returns? Or maybe they symbolize the end of the cold winter of this pandemic. Or maybe I just like birds?  

Here are the first two.

 

   

The Masked Bandit                                                   The Western Tanager

 

 

 

These will be on display at The Bunnell Family Cellars in Woodinville.  

 

Really truly,

Jamie

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Today

You cannot live in the past; it is just a memory.
You cannot live in the future; it is just your imagination.
You can only be in the present.

"Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans." John Lennon


I am not qualified to give any advice about how to live your life, what thoughts to have, with whom to share your time. Real-life is the only source of my opinions.  But the process of writing helps me organize my thoughts. It helps me keep going.

There is no doubt that the sum of our experiences makes us the one-and-only person that we are. The most significant contribution an artist can make is to share her unique view of life with others. It is also the only thing original.   

And it is nice to have good memories. Maybe not so nice to have bad ones, but they are just memories.

The future is only our imagination. I am from the Midwest but have lived in Seattle for over 20 years. I used to say that, when I was young, I never imagined that I would spend most of my life in the Pacific Northwest.  See, that word, "imagined. "

What we do have control over is our lives today. You are the only person with true custodianship over your life;

Over your thoughts;
Over your decisions on how to spend your time;
Over what matters to your soul.

You can choose to have a life where you are not alone; focus on spending quality time with people instead of browsing online or sitting on the sofa every night watching TV.

You can choose to have a less hurried life; decide to spend less so you can have more time.

You can choose to be reflective and contemplative about your life; look out the window, watch it rain, and see where your thoughts go.

You can choose good health; take the time to eat real food, and save fast food for the people in a hurry.

You can choose to work at love, kiss your significant other, hug your kids, tell a friend you love them.  

You can choose to be generous.

You can choose to live instead of merely exist.  

I think contentment, and maybe happiness, comes from realizing you have these choices.

I get so confused sometimes about life. If anything, I am the person who thinks about it too much. Who wonders too much how my decisions today will impact my tomorrow. Who strives a little too hard to experience everything, to live that life less ordinary.

I was trying to decide on something once and talking it over with my mother. I don't remember the resolution or conversation, but I remember her conveying that "there is no dress rehearsal. You only get one chance." I think about this often.  

No matter how the future turns out, at least I know I cared enough to try. I tried to love others;

To be generous and soulful;
To raise good kids;
To make the world a little more beautiful.

So that in 30 years, or however long God gives me on this earth, I can look back on my past without regret. I can look back and say I loved the journey and tried my best.

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"A room with pictures and a room without pictures differ nearly as much as a room with windows and a room without windows; for pictures are loopholes of escape to the soul, leading it to other scenes and spheres, where the fancy for a moment may revel, refreshed and delighted. Pictures are consolers of loneliness, and a relief to the jaded mind, and windows to the imprisoned thought; they are books, histories, and sermons - which we can read without the trouble of turning over the leaves."
Sir John Gilbert

This year has brought unexpected changes for many of our lives.  In January, I sold my largest painting and shipped it to Scotland. 

 

My next painting went to Hong Kong.  My thoughts were focused on preparing for my largest art show ever, the Vancouver International Art Fair, with an expected attendance of 20,000.   

But I soon found myself living at the epicenter of the arrival of COVID to the United States.  As we residents of Seattle settled into our first three-month complete lock down, I assumed my year selling art was over.  Nevertheless, I kept painting.

And soon, a year that I thought would be empty was filled with color and light and stories.  I completed over twenty commission paintings this year. 

 

Some artists find commissions stressful as you sometimes have to sacrifice a bit of your artistic intuition to please a client.  But to me, the process of producing a unique one-of-kind heirloom for a family or person is a blessing.

 

 

Jamie, your talent blows me away. From a simple phone image, you captured the essence of Bliss. The depiction of her eyes, her tongue, and that black bottom lip are excellent, but your ability to use light in her image the way you did leaves us in awe.  I keep looking and seeing new things, and I shed another tear. Bliss was my daughter’s dog, but she decided to choose me 14 years ago as “her person.” I never wanted a dog, and the mark this dog left on my heart is indelible. Thank you.   Craig P.

 

 

And, at the end of the year, several of my very favorite paintings found new homes as well.  

 

To all of my collectors, thank you for the opportunity to bring some color and light into your lives.    I continually feel blessed to spend my days doing exactly what I was created to do.

 

 

See you in the New Year,

Really Truly,

Jamie

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Hi Friends,

It is Fall here in the Pacific Northwest.  I took a long walk in the woods yesterday, and I was on one of my favorite trails that I have hiked several times the past couple of summers.  The trail follows a meandering river that is ripe with trout and spawning salmon.  The path starts near the river with a set of unnamed waterfalls, wanders off into the woods, and then meets the river again. The fallen leaves and new erosion from our first PNW rainstorm changed the trail so much there were parts I hardly recognized.  I have heard that at the end of the trail, you meet up with the river again. Even though I have hiked this trail many times, I have never made it the full four miles to the end.  



Changes in seasons are good times to reflect on the moments in life.  Last year at this time, I was in Italy for a  month painting with my friends. 



So much has changed in my life since then, that like the trail I was on, I hardly recognize parts of my life sometimes.  

I started wondering about where I would be a year from now.  

Who can predict?   

Hopefully, we have all gotten a little better at just being happy in the moment instead of waiting for "what's next" to fulfill us.   And I hold to the conviction that it is the journey that counts and not the final destination.  It's staying present in the steps we take today that matters. 

Regardless of what tomorrow brings, today, I got to walk along a beautiful fall trail covered with a carpet of leaves accompanied by the music of rushing water. Maybe next time I will make it to the end. 

Enjoy your day,

Really truly,
Jamie

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Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance, and the beauty of  Italian art was born here.  Think Michelangelo, Botticelli, Raphael and you will get the picture.     The magnificence of the art in the museums and galleries is undeniable.

 

But what also struck me this year was the street art of Florence, what some are calling the Urban Renaissance.    Walking through the cobbled alleys of Florence, you can't help but notice the art that covers walls, road signs, and street lamps.  Much of street art has a strong social message,  like it's taking the pulse of modern Florence.  Whatever the purpose, I found the art sometimes brought a  laugh and other times, I wanted to high five the artist for making a statement.  
 
Here is some street art that caught my attention.  

 

 

 

I did a little research and found out more about this artist who goes by Exit/Enter. His stylized men often hold a small red heart on a fragile string that connects the man to our most important organ.  His art aims to stimulate the imagination.   

 

 

 

 

 

Does anyone read Italian?  I would love to know what this says?

 

 

 

 

Next time you are in Florence, be sure to notice the art of the streets. 

CLICK Here to see my Italy Inspired Art

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"The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience." Emily Dickinson

 

 

 

 

Me, Painting in a Villa outside of Florence last year.

 

As I am preparing for this trip, I couldn't help but reflect on how much my life has changed since this painting trip last year.  

 

If I truly focus on my hearts desires, I have always wanted to paint. And I knew that once I visited Italy, it would be the place for me to go and recharge.  

 

Nevertheless, when I left for Italy last year at about this time, I still had not made a full-time commitment to painting. My studio was a vibrant community with tons of creativity pouring out the door every day. I love my students, but it was their art being produced and not mine. I was painting part-time and still teaching. I lived with more "'should's" on my calendar than "want 'to's."

 

It was on the trip to Italy that I decided to give myself a year to completely follow my dreams and paint. I believe your epiphany moment in life comes to you when you are ready for it. I've been on a path to this moment for years. All it took was me merely allowing myself to fully breathe in my dreams and then set off to follow them.  

 

It was a simple decision to bring my words, actions, and thoughts into alignment.

 

After last years trip, I came home, canceled all of my classes, and painted.  

 

And painted. And painted.  

 

If an opportunity came to me, I asked myself if it was in alignment with my desire to live as a fulltime artist? If the answer was no, I let the opportunity pass. 

 

And so much has changed for me.  

 

I have sold some art and got into some juried shows, like NOAPS Best in America, that helps boost my confidence.

 

I have listened to a lot of podcasts as I spent hours alone in my studio.  

 

I have watched the flowers outside my studio bloom, wilt, die, be covered with snow and then bloom again.    

 

Most importantly, I realized that all of my passions and desires are real. I realized that I love to paint. I can spend hours doing it and get up the next morning and start all over. It is how I experience the world and process my thoughts.  

 

It is where the light comes in. But also where the story is told in the shadows.

 

I have found peace and happiness.

 

I don't know where all of these miles of the canvas are leading me. And I don't think it really matters as the journey counts more than the destination.  

 

Thanks to all of you for following along on this journey and giving me your love and support.  

 

And if you have some unrequited dreams, don't turn them aside.  

 

Listen and go.

 

Really, truly,

 

Jamie

 

Reflections on Italy

 

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THIS PAINTING

 

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Yes, the landscaping in Italy is beautiful but so are the people.

 

 

Nicolo posed for us one morning at the Villa – it was a pleasure to paint him.

 

 

 

 

Nicolo

12 x 14

oil on Canvas

 

 

 

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Every fall I have a magical time painting in Florence.  The entire experience is so beneficial to my soul and my artistic abilities.  

 

 

An excerpt from my journal that I wrote at lunch on one of the last days:

 

Lunch break - I am sitting on the gravel patio outside Villa Pepi, my home for the week. 

 

I am part in the shade and part in the sun with my feet propped on the ancient stone wall.  As the breeze moves the leaves of the tree above me, the sun drifts across my legs, providing comfort and a soft singing of the leaves.  

 In the near distance is the pool fed by a natural spring,  and beyond the rolling hills and vineyards of Tuscany.

 

We spent the morning painting a portrait of Valerio.  He is the maintenance man for the property, and his family has lived in this region since the Twelfth Century.  His wife was born on this property as well.  The painting is coming easily this trip, and I have learned so much from Pam.

 

 

I don't even know how many days I have been to Italy, but I do know I only have 3.5 painting days left.  

I am in complete bliss.  The scenery is incredible — the weather perfection.  And I am spending every moment when I am not sleeping or eating, painting.  I could spend every day doing this and be completely content. 

 

Pre-dinner Sparkling Wine.  I earned the nickname Sparkling Wine on this trip.  So, yes, I did more than paint.

 

 

Pomero, the Chef.  We also ate like royalty. 

 

 

And I got to spend the week with this lovely group of artists.

See some of my Italy inspired art here.  More to come soon.

 

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