About

Eyes Wide Open came into being as this quilted piece made by Jennifer Goodenberger, a local artist and pianist/composer. Because she hangs in my bathroom next to the mirror, she got under my skin, in a good way.

I began serious sketching in 2008 during a week-long workshop with Mari Le Glatin Keis (author of The Art of Travelling with a Sketchbook). When I look back at that formative sketchbook, the first two days are a struggle, but on Day 3, Eyes Wide Open made her appearance and the page exploded. She’s been with me ever since, tho not on every page (she needs her quiet time).

As I say in my first post, sometimes we are one, and sometimes I just use her to help me see the 10,000 things. Even when I forget, that’s what Eyes Wide Open (‘EWO’) does. She sees. I draw. We are one.12 years later – I have 9 sketchbooks and an active practice. My travelling kit goes with me everywhere, and I can stop and draw at a moment’s notice. This has come to be very important to me, to my sanity, and my center of balance.

I have a small audience for my pages, and I would like to enlarge that. I want to publish some of my pages in medias res, in no particular order, and without too much explanation. If you’d like to join the journey, then plug yourself in and let’s head out.

Because travelling doesn’t necessarily mean leaving home.