Soundtrack...2011

Let me start by saying that I am not a musician. I can't sing and often forget the lyrics to songs, I don't play an instrument and have never had the opportunity to learn (aside from a brief stint with the clarinet in middle school.) I do remember knowing how to dance but years of dancing in the dark have tested my confidence and like all music lovers I do sing loudly and fearlessly in the car or in my studio. I am sure there have been many a queer stares my way as I drive down Rt. 1.

But my life has a soundtrack. I am enamored with the way music can stoke emotions. I find myself laying down songs to every significant moment in my life. My first kiss, the first dance at my wedding, the birth of my son and every time my daughter smiles. I hear these songs and I am transported back to moments that have shaped me. I can remember how things felt from the taste of chapstick and awkwardness of kissing with braces to the swish of lace and satin at my wedding. I can smell my sweet brand new baby boy and see my daughter's twinkly eyes. Magic!

This year, I have been paying attention to those songs that have inspired a reaction and I want to leave you with a list of songs that have made it onto my soundtrack. Some of the reasons are silly, some are heartbreaking but all of the moments were felt and acknowledged. Maybe your life's soundtrack is similar. Have fun listening and be sure to share some of your favorite songs in the comments. Happiest of New Years! xo

1. The silliest: LMFAO, Sexy and I know it. Please don't judge but this one cracks me up!
2. The sexiest: Ricky Martin, Juramento. People who know me, know how much this is a fantasy of mine.
3. The sweetest: Cyra Morgan, Sanctuary. Cyra is just so beautiful and I am so blessed to have her in my life.
4. The one that makes me remember: Creed, Rain. The rain, the regret, the wonder, everything all fell into place and it was important...then this song played on the radio.
5. The sentence I could not complete: Colbie Caillat, I Never Told You. I think we all have these moments when we can't say anything right.
6. The one that makes me melt: Amos Lee, Arms of a Woman. I hope to be this woman...the one that feels like home.
7. The one that fills me with HOPE: Amos Lee, Windows Are Rolled Down. Life keeps moving and the wind keeps changing but there is always a moment when you take on these changes and accept them.
8. A new friendship: Evan St. Martin: Just In Time. A new friend and incredible talent! I can't wait to see him fly.
9. The one that empowered me: Ingrid Michaelson, Maybe. Sometimes you just need to walk away.
10. The cutest by far: Zooey Deschanel & Joseph Gordon-Levitt, What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? Sweet isn't it?

Waiting for the RIGHT moment

Inspiration seems to come only when I am about to give up or right when I can't seem to be able to solve the problem. I usually wake up in the middle of the night or sit in the wee hours of the morning with a frantic need to purge. Everything I have been mulling over, obsessing about, dealing with, sweating out, pondering, placating, and praying for seems to come into focus and all of a sudden I can see! The solution was right there...all along...waiting for when I needed it the most.

I had been holding on to a story that I had written a while ago about a fellow artist whose studio I visited. On the day of my visit, it was windy and cold. We sat in the middle of her studio clutching our coffee mugs and just looked. We looked around at her supplies and student work. There were piles of papers and portfolios she had to go through. Still lives were set up in different corners of the studio, ready for her classes. Pencils and paintbrushes were on every surface. To an artist, this was where it all happened. You just had to sit and wait for it...inspiration.

Well, I left her studio feeling warmer than when I went in. I thought that the space was an ideal combination of home and work...or is it home and passion? Because what I experienced and subsequently kept to myself was a moment of quiet contemplation. These moments do not happen often for me. I usually fill my days with to do lists. I mark my time by pick up and drop off schedules, deadlines and commitments. I kept this moment just for me. I didn't share it right away for fear that the magic would disappear.

It took a while for me to let go, but the other morning it happened. I had waited long enough and I couldn't keep it to myself any longer. So here it is. My visit to artist and teacher, Julie Duba's, studio. I hope that you can understand why I guarded my experience for a while.

"Stonington Artist Teaches A Life Long Love Of Art", Dec. 12, 2011, PATCH.com

Embracing it ALL...

One of my favorite things about this time of year is the chance to gather with friends and family. At home, we began listening to Christmas music and decorated the house around Thanksgiving. The kids are jumping out of their skin with excitement as they write and re-write their letters to Santa. There are school concerts to prepare for, holiday strolls and tree lighting ceremonies, ice skating parties, and lots of shopping. The lists are long but the smiles are bright and the jingling of the Salvation Army bells outside of the local supermarket remind us that it is a season of generosity.

As I help put together the annual Holiday celebration at Above Elite Studios, I am overwhelmed by the generosity of spirit and the loyalty of the artists that participate. Some of us harvested fresh greens from our yards, others swept the stairs and hung banners. Twinkly lights were strung on branches and window sills to add sparkle and holiday cheer. With a little wine and good conversation and you've got the perfect kick off to the winter season. The show is up and ready and all we have to wait for are the guests.

The very best part of all of this is that I get to make new friends. Just today I spent the morning with singer/songwriter Evan St. Martin. We were invited on to the local radio station (WBLQ 1230AM) where Evan had a chance to showcase a couple of his original songs. I was absolutely blown away by his talent! I was also humbled by the generosity of the crew at WBLQ. They spent so much time with us and it was such a joy watching them work. Thank you to Chris Dipaola, Mark Sullivan and Brian Sullivan for welcoming us into the radio station and for embracing the arts.

I leave you with a video of the broadcast. Enjoy! Evan will be performing at Above Elite Studios on Friday, Dec. 9th. The studios will be open on Friday, Dec. 9th from 5:30-9pm and Saturday, Dec. 10th from 10-4pm. Hope to see you there.

"Good Tidings, GREAT Art!", Dec. 9th & 10th at Above Elite Studios

YOU are invited to the most fun, festive and FABULOUS event of the season!

Good Tidings, GREAT Art!

Friday, Dec. 9th, 5:30-9pm

Saturday, Dec. 10th, 10-4pm

Hosted by Above Elite Studios

181 Main Street, Westerly

Featured artists include:

Laura Gaffke, Millie Donovan, Kathy Johnson,

Sarah Martin, Juli Rankin Mancini, Ian Newbury & Diana Sartor

with live entertainment on Friday by Evan St. Martin.

*Added bonus! Every purchase from one of our artists will earn

you a free chance to WIN tickets to Westerly's Granite Theatre.

I paint because...

"I hate flowers–I paint them because they are cheaper than models and they don't move."— Georgia O'Keefe.

It seems like we all do things we don't necessarily like to do. Today, I spent my time in the studio working on small cards and collages that I hope to package and have ready for the holidays. This kind of activity drives me bonkers! There is usually paper all over my worktables, paint splattered across my face and gel medium stuck underneath my fingernails. I don't mind the mess as much as I do the feeling of panic as I look at the small pieces and wonder why. Why am I adding to my to do list? Why are they taking so long to finish? Why do I continue to paint the things that I don't necessarily like?

The simple answer is because...Because in order to work on refining my voice I must borrow from the creative language currently at my disposal. That is to say, I use what is around me and gain inspiration from it. This is a tricky thing to do when surrounded by a community of outstanding creative people all reading the same publications, using the same materials, applying and exhibiting at the same galleries and shows. All of us making similar "products" and hoping to provide enough visual interest in our respective work to make the connections we all crave.

At the end of the day I found myself with a handful of new pieces that I was pretty content with. I had found old collages and painted book pages. I cracked open some new tubes of alzarin crimson and light green (colors I have admired in paintings by my studio mate). I cut out words from an old copy of my daughter's favorite book, "Ramona the Pest", and mixed them up like domino tiles. I painted and applied textures using mesh, bubble wrap, plastic bottle caps and the flat end of my pencil. The result well...you decide...maybe it's not quite a Georgia O'Keefe but it is a Millie Donovan and it was a lot cheaper to create with all these found objects then to hire a motionless model.

"She Did", mixed-media on paper © Millie Donovan

Holiday Shows I'm working towards: (wish me luck)

Harvest Craft Sale at the Noank Foundry, Saturday Oct. 29th from 12-6pm

Good Tidings Great Art at Above Elite Studios, Friday Dec. 9th from 5:30-9pm and Saturday Dec. 10th from 10am-4pm

For the pure JOY of it...

I have been struggling with recent comparisons of my paintings that have left me without inspiration. In my attempts for originality I had failed to make a connection and for some that saw my work, they only saw another's. I was lost to reason and obsessed over my perceived lack of originality. It was as if someone told me to SHUT UP...it was a slap in the face...a slammed door...a ruler rapped on the back of my knuckles. My ego was not only bruised by broken.

See, this is the problem with choosing a creative path: sensitivity is heightened. The paper we push is meant to be treasured. Even our doodles have intention. We do not abide by check lists and results oriented goals, profit and loss sheets, or marketing strategies. These are just activities we must do to help pay the bills. Instead we are moved by a nod of approval and the utterance of 3 little words..."I like it." I LIKE IT enough to include in the show, I LIKE IT enough to hang on my wall, I LIKE IT enough to give it to a friend.

What I didn't realize was that those 3 words needed to be spoken by ME...the "artist". I recently found my VALIDATION at the bottom of my paint tubes. I dusted them off from a long summer hiatus and squeezed the paints onto my favorite palette. The colors did not forget me! My hands did not betray me. It felt good to have paint underneath my fingernails. The thing with painting or writing or any other creative activity is that you have to set your EGO aside and not be concerned with comparisons or critiques. Your only concern should be the ACTIVITY of creation and how much YOU LIKE IT!

As for originality, well is anything really ever original? I had my studio mate, Laura Gaffke, take a quick picture of my hands and palette...because I LIKED how that moment felt. I loved how my hands were messy with paint and the palette was full of rich, lovely color. On the same day, I saw a beautiful photograph my friend Joy had taken of her own paint spattered hands. It seemed to scream I LIKE IT! Our hands, the moment we chose to document said it all. We both LOVED what we were doing and shared that moment. Original? Maybe not but the moment was just ours and it was LOVED.

Photo by: Joyita Neerkaje

Photo of: (me) Millie Donovan

In Gratitude

It has been a while since I have pulled my head out of the sand and ventured back into the wonderful world of art. I have been telling myself that I am on hiatus, a little break from the expectations of constant creativity, a vacation from the showiness of being an "artist". It has been a summer of camps and family and sunscreen. A season of beaches and pools and hot summer nights. A period of moonlit swims, mosquitoes and buzzing bees. And I have LOVED every minute of it!

But friends and community can make you do funny things. In this case I put on my "big girl pants", as my friend Laura likes to say, ventured into the abandoned dusty corner at Above Elite that I call my studio and pulled out all of my little treasures to display at the midsummer Stonington Village Fair (one of my most favorite hometown events.)

Our Booth at the Stonington Village Fair 2011

When I moved to this area I made my very first friends at the Stonington COMO. My children participated in the various community center offerings from preschool to karate and dance. I am proud to say that my children and I helped install the children's garden at the COMO and spent every other afternoon weeding and watering the beautiful little garden. "Mother Nature" even left a few thoughtful notes in the mailbox at the garden for my imaginative 4 year old to find and enjoy.

For all of these moments I am eternally GRATEFUL. The COMO provided a sense of belonging for my family. In turn I have been able to volunteer from time to time. These activities have always filled my heart and I continue to look forward to them every year.

This year I was happy to share my love of the Village Fair with the LOVELY Laura Gaffke. I stole moments away from the not-so-lazy days of summer to dream and plan with Laura. Our display came together rather beautifully with ransacked items from our studios: little teacups held business cards, an old planter showcased gicleé prints, and a vintage tackle box displayed small watercolors. Laura's work was prettily laid out using old wooden spools, an antique soap box and scattered sea stars. We managed to pull off a cohesive display that was well attended and we received very generous compliments throughout the day.

It's all in the details.

It was NICE ... really nice to see people enjoying what we had to share. Friends and neighbors stopped by to give their support. I met new people and enjoyed getting caught up with an old acquaintance I had lost touch with for several years. She excitedly came up behind me and announced..."Wow, I knew it! I saw your booth and was showing my husband your work when I noticed that I recognized the name." She said one of the kindest things I had ever heard about my work..."you are obviously a successful painter!" I was speechless for a moment and then I agreed... Yes, I am successful because I have friends and a community with which to share what I love to do the most.

So here is to the kind words of an old friend, the excited participation (check out her blog post of the event) of Miss Laura Gaffke and the encouragement of "Mother Nature" who showed up at the fair with hugs and well wishes and said, "get your head out of the sand and enjoy."

"In Search of Imagination" These are sketches and ideas

for a new painting I will be working on for the upcoming

"Stars Over Stonington" Silent Auction, Sept. 3oth.

Of Bees and Fish

If I could make anything happen for my children (aside from the usual prayer for health and happiness) it would be to save them from the sting of rejection. There is nothing more powerful than that feeling of being lost, out of place, nowhere. It is tough to be the last one picked, to not make the team, to lose out on your first choice or to not be asked to prom. It is painful to be rejected by the boy you "loved", to find out that your best friend prefers to hang out with someone else, to receive that "skinny" envelope from your dream school.

Well, let me tell you, as an adult that thinks of herself beyond such childish feelings, rejection is still a bitter pill to swallow. Part of the expectations within the art community is to vie for memberships in cooperatives and artist associations. The application is usually a juried process where expectations are outlined and a committee decides on any acceptances. The difficult part is that expectations are subjective and committees and applicants are human. Well, I didn't fit the mold and was rejected by the very FIRST association I applied to. It was my safety school. The one that could not possibly say no. I was already an associate member and an active participant. Heck, I had even exhibited there, was a patron and knew a good portion of the members AND their work. How could I possibly be denied full membership? Here I am a REJECT! The last one picked, the girl without a prom date, no boyfriend, no best friend, no TRIBE, "always the bridesmaid and never the bride."

And so I give you BEES and FISH. Right after my recent rejection, I kept dreaming of bees and salmon. What funny imagery. Busy, industrious, purposeful, and exhausting. In my waking hours I was constantly reminded of bees and salmon. I would see this imagery all around me: window displays (photo is of a display in downtown Mystic), patterns, videos sent by friends, a new series by one of my favorite contemporary artists. There were even a couple of bees that had found refuge behind the curtains in my kitchen during a recent thunderstorm. The Universe was shouting at me!

So I looked it up. I wanted to find out what the *BUZZ* was going on! Aside from the obvious reminders of swimming against the current and purposeful structure, what did all of this mean for me? What was I being asked? What did I need to learn?

When we dream of bees it may be an indication that we are ready to communicate or a call to recognize the "treasures" that reside within us. Specifically, what ideas am I nurturing? What emotions do I "pollinate" (spread)? Am I tasting the nectar of the sweetest flowers or do I linger in the marsh of unproductive thinking? [source: www.whats-your-sign.com]

Fish can be a sign of fertility, creativity, transformation, knowledge and happiness. The Celtic symbolism for salmon refers to wisdom, inspiration, knowledge and prophecy. I understood this to mean that inspiration and creativity can be found through adversity and hard work. That "there are plenty of fish in the sea."

I learned that in order to continue finding MY voice that I have to want to communicate, I have to learn to approach what I do with love and respect, I have to decide that creation alone is it's own sweet reward and that in order to achieve all of this I need to choose a different path. Rather than rely on others to provide happiness I need to learn to become industrious, to work hard and with purpose, to achieve creativity through transformation, to gain inspiration by becoming knowledgeable about myself, about my craft. I need to be driven by instinct and trust of self rather than follow the current. Rejection still has a bitter taste and an awful sting but it is mine to learn from.

So like the bee I am making my home, looking within, making sense of the world and building it to suit my needs. Like the fish I am learning, adapting, staying strong and finding a way despite the rushing currents.

The kid in the playground will kick the hardest, the girl at the prom will dance to every song, the bridesmaid will lead the procession and the artist without her tribe will find her place among the paint.

I Want to Believe...

I want to believe that I am on the right path,

That every intention is sincere,

That every moment has purpose.

I want to believe that people are intrinsically good,

That the Universe has lessons that will better our existence,

That with these lessons we become better people, better friends, better partners.

I want to believe that I am good,

That I have something to offer that is more than just the surface,

That the reality of my existence lies beneath the paint and the words.

But before I can believe all these things, I have to be judged,

I have to make myself vulnerable, expose my heart, take off the mask,

In reality, I have to set aside my expectations because...

Because life does not show you good without the bad,

You cannot know love without rejection,

You cannot be free without letting go.

So I will let myself go and forgive the anger,

I will dry the tears that well up when I think that I have lost,

The emotion that stirs when I feel slighted and rejected.

I will let go of the pretense and the games,

I will let go of the disbelief and the negativity,

And in the process I will find myself.

© Millie Donovan

Always Magical!

As artists we spend our time trying to see how we fit. How our work is received. How we can improve and share and create so that we can belong. We speak of tribes and coops and collaboratives. We hold on tight to friends and family and exult in new introductions. We are social creatures that crave connections and conversations. And yet we paint and create while alone. It is an interesting dynamic. One not easily understood because what we are forever doing is reaching out.

This week with arms outstretched I did indeed reach out and was met with enthusiastic *hugs*. I met a new group of amazing people at ARTE Gallery in New Haven. An art space that embraces family and community. An art space with a mission to excel through the language of art (visual, musical and culinary). How amazing! Then I spent 2 Magical Days with the "Elitists" (don't let the pet-name fool you). This group of awesome artists arrive with huge smiles and help transform our humble studio on the Pawcatuck River into a space FULL of magic and marvelous creations. We feed off of each other. We are each other's biggest fans. Encouraging, pushing, challenging. We are always looking forward and dreaming. And our arms are always OPEN.

Thank you to all who attended these events and who accepted the smiles and hugs. I look forward to many more opportunities to reach out. And I will continue to share even when I am alone, creating, painting and writing in my studio along the Pawcatuck River.

(Perspectives/Perspectivas, ARTE Gallery, New Haven 2011)

("Cawl Me" by Jaclyn Altieri Murphy @ Spring Fling Fever! 2011)

(Serena Bates & Sarah Martin @ Spring Fling Fever! 2011)

(The Lovely Mary T. Sullivan)

(Serena Bates, Carol Watson, Laura Gaffke & Jaclyn Altieri Murphy)

Perspectives/Perspectivas at ARTE Gallery in New Haven

I have always had a difficult time with labels. I have always struggled with being able to define myself, my art, what I do. I have always cringed at the idea of describing myself to others without them getting to know ME first. I have always felt that to know someone is to be able to see them without labels and associations and classifications. THAT is when the magic happens. That is when you get to know the sweetness of character that seeps through a tough exterior. That is when you get to understand the thoughts of a brilliant mind hidden behind the silliness of a crooked smile. That is when you get to know the complexities of womanhood and the responsibilities of being a man. That is when CLARITY happens. When PERSPECTIVES shift. When LOVE takes over unafraid and unconditional. That is when HUMANITY transcends.

I am overjoyed at the prospect of the show Perspectives/Perspectivas opening today in New Haven. ARTE Gallery is a non-profit organization that uses the arts (dance, music, visual and even culinary) to give a home to all those labels, to provide clarity to young minds, to help them visualize potential and guide them towards better futures by allowing them to learn about and see themselves. Located in a little colonial building on the Quinnipiac River in New Haven, the gallery is warm and well loved. The doors are open and the space is used for many different events for all ages.

Here is the press release and description of the event:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

REQUEST FOR ADVANCE PUBLICITY – EDITORIAL AND PHOTOGRAPHIC COVERAGE

Contact: Corina Alvarezdelugo

corinadotdash@comcast.net

Curator/Fine Artists


RE: ARTE, INC - FINE ARTIST: Corina S. Alvarezdelugo will be curating a special exhibition at the ARTE INC Gallery in New Haven, CT:

Sculptor and mixed media painter Corina S. Alvarezdelugo is the curator for PERSPECTIVES/PERSPECTIVAS an exhibition by Connecticut artists of Latin origin at the Arte Inc Gallery, 19 Grand Avenue, New Haven, CT. Corina S. Alvarezdelugo, and her daughter, MariaCorina Alvarezdelugo, both from Branford, along with artists Millie Donovan from Pawcatuck, Fernando Garcia from Hartford, Noe Jimenez from New Haven, Sikiu Perez from Bozrah, and Margarita Rodriguez-Lansberg from Guilford, will be exhibiting their recent works in painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media and sculpture. Opening reception: Thursday, April 28th, 2011 from 5:30-8 pm. Live music by El Duo Flamenco de los hermanos Ramos, refreshments. Free event. 


After the opening reception, Arte Gallery will be open to the public Saturdays - Sundays, Noon – 4:00PM, from April 23rd through May 21st.

About artist/curator: Award winning painter and sculptor, Corina S. Alvarezdelugo is specially recognized for her round sculptures, but her two dimensional, as well as tridimensional works have been shown in many art galleries and museums around the country, particularly in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Scottsdale-Arizona, Massachussett, at DUMBO in Brooklyn and in Manhattan, New York City. Corina has also shown her paintings in South America and the Caribbean. Her works have been published in several newspapers and art magazines, and can be found in private collections around the world.

To learn more about Corina S. Alvarezdelugo go to www.corinadotdash.com

Note to Editor: ARTE INC is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to Promoting Latino Art, Culture & Talent. Arte establishes partnerships with community agencies and groups to improve quality of life of residents. Arte also assists artists, organizes programs, events, shows and exhibits. Arte develops and runs effective youth programming to engage children and mold better citizens, and most importantly it provides education.

To learn more about Arte Inc and their future events, go to www.arte-inc.com

About the artists in the exhibition:

Branford- MariaCorina Alvarezdelugo is currently a senior at Parsons Institute of Design in New York City, where she is pursuing a career in Design and Management. MariaCorina participated in the juried Biennial exhibition titled Cultural Passages: Identity Made Visible, at the Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven, CT, in 2007 and in Connections/Conexiones exhibition at Arte, INC in 2009, amongst other exhibits.

Pawcatuck- Mixed media painter, Millie Donovan likes to create texture in her works by combining typography, photography, and found objects with traditional media, such as acrylic and watercolor paints. To learn more about Millie Donovan go to: http://milliedonovan.blogspot.com

Hartford- The paintings of Fernando Garcia tend to be colorful and often realistically rendered, influenced by the vibrancy of street art and urban culture. Reflecting a mix between aesthetic experimentation and deeper explorations on personal events that engage the viewer.

New Haven- Noe Jimenez is a Dominican-American painter. His work has been featured in online publications such as the Dirty Pond and Artist Advocacy. He has exhibited at the Madison Arts Cinema in the two-person show Plompous and has been a regular exhibitor at the New Haven City-Wide shows for the last 3 years. Noé has studied at the Altos de Chavon School of Art in La Romana, Dominican Republic; the University of Urbino in Italy and El Colegio de España, in Salamanca, Spain. This summer he will be joining students from Italy and the United States in a performance piece at the 2011 Venice Biennale.

Bozrah- Sculptor and painter, Sikiu Perez gets inspiration from the Ancient Mesoamerican and Pre-ColumbianArt. Her themes are usually the female figure and a wide variety of birds, symbolizing graceful fertility and power. Sikiu has shown her works in art galleries around the USA and in her native Venezuela. Her works can be found in public and private collections in both countries. To learn more about Sikiu Perez go to http://www.sikiuperez.com/

Guilford- Award winning mixed media and watercolor artist, Margarita Rodríguez-Lansberg’s work, has been exhibited in galleries in the USA and Venezuela. Her paintings are included in private collections in both countries.

Catch the Fever! Spring Event at Above Elite...

It is that time of year when we are all awaiting the new growth that spring promises. The little purple headed crocuses, the tiny yellow buds of the forsythia, the smell of rain and mud, the robin perched on the willow tree. Our gardens are stretching, awakening, filled with scurrying little animals, the earthworms squirming in the rain puddles freed from the deep sleep of a winter entombment.

At Above Elite Studios, spring fills our palettes with creamy chartruese paints, raspberry swatches, pinks and purples and yellows all inspired by the early growth of the Narcissus, the Magnolia, the budding Cherry. Our work includes feathers and flowers and things from our walks on the beaches and in the woods. Our brushes and chisels attempt to interpret the bright pinks and oranges of early morning sunrises and "birds in hands".

Spring has Sprung at Above Elite Studios and will welcome you with a colorful display of heartfelt images and joyous interpretations of the season in oils, acrylics, mixed-media, printmaking, sculpture, jewelry and in the garden.

We are opening our doors on:

Friday, April 29th from 5:30–9p.m.

Saturday, April 30th from 10–4p.m.

Stop by and help us welcome the new season!

The show will feature work by resident Artists Laura Gaffke, Millie Donovan & Charles Estabrooks. Guest artists include Serena Bates, Jaclyn Altieri Murphy, Sarah Martin & Carol Watson. Live entertainment on Friday by Mary T. Sullivan & Judas Brooks and potted plant designs by Thyme to Garden of Groton.

I haven't been....

I haven't been writing

or painting

or taking pictures.

I haven't been crying

or laughing

or getting mad.

I haven't been seeing

or wanting

or falling in love.

I've just been living

and doing

and getting things done.

So what does this mean?

What am I to do?

I just need to take some time...

and be myself with you.

Lost in Thought...

Lost in Thought by Millie Donovan

I am lost in thought.

In my head and in my heart,

Betrayed and betraying

My hat does not fit.

Full of angst,

Full of hope,

Restless and tired,

Wondering when I can go home.

Where is the door?

When can I knock?

Knock down all the barriers,

Forget expectations,

Forget what's right.

Go to the left,

Turn, change direction

I am lost,

In my head and in my heart.

Regretfully speaking the truth,

And thinking about all the things

That remind me of us.

Crossroads, acrylic and thread on canvas, 6"x6" © Millie Donovan

Poppin' Up At A Storefront Near You

I just completed my first solo shift at the Artisans Gallery in Mystic Connecticut and am so excited to be a part of a recent trend helping with downtown revitalization. Pop-up galleries are appearing all over city blocks, filling vacant spaces and providing venues for willing artists. The first of its kind in our area, the Artisans Gallery, is the cooperative effort of 7 local artists. Located near the corner of West Main and Pearl in Mystic, it is right in the heart of downtown and is easily accessible. We are currently open every Saturday from 12-7:30 p.m. and will be participating in the Mystic Art Night every 1st Thursday of the month from 6-9 p.m. Be sure to stop by and say hello when you are out strolling. We may not be there forever but we will be sure to let you know where we will POP-UP next!

Artisans Gallery

3 Pearl Street

Mystic, CT

See my article about Artisans recently posted on Patch.com!

Affirmative...Saying YES and believing it!

This past Saturday, I joined a group of creative ladies at Above Elite Studios for a workshop led by Laura Gaffke . We gathered to create tiny books of AFFIRMATION (an exercise that many subscribe to in their daily lives).

AFFIRMATION, saying yes, making definitive choices, stating the present and living it...positively and with self-confidence. Needless to say for me it was an exercise that I was completely uncomfortable with...like wishing on fairy dust and eyelashes.

With a deep breath I dove right in. Open mind and open heart, I reached for those wants and wrote out a list of 12 AFFIRMATIONS and created a stunning little book for me to share. Here are the results.

I would love to know what you feel about AFFIRMATIONS. Do you use them in your daily life? Have you had success? I am willing to DREAM WITH MY EYES OPEN and am in love with the idea that this little book and the work that stems from this creative exercise can help me do just that.

Confessions (or something like that)...for 2011

We are barely 3 days into the New Year and already life has presented some little challenges that I am going to have to face. Growing up, my family always celebrated the New Year together. New Year's Eve meant putting on your nicest outfit (even if you were staying home), getting together with friends and family (everyone was welcome), and staying up late. We greeted the New Year together as we counted down the seconds, saying prayers and making wishes with our eyes closed, holding hands, and remembering those that couldn't be with us.

Over the years, since I have had my own little family, these traditions have changed a bit. My parents and brothers are not always with me, we may not go to large family parties and have lots of company and early in my marriage, it was just the two of us, cuddled on the couch, watching the ball drop and counting down the seconds. Still, as I heard Dick Clark begin the countdown, I closed my eyes, said my prayers, made my wishes, held on tight to my loved ones and remembered everyone and everything I have been blessed to have in my life.

This year I missed the New Year. I was alone...in bed...fast asleep. To the disappointment of everyone, I came down with a bug that knocked my socks off for 24 hours. I banished everyone from my room (and the house) in hopes of containing the sickness. The New Year came quietly, on a cold night, with people tip-toeing around the house, blowing kisses from the door of my bedroom.

I have NEVER missed a New Year and I found it disorienting. I did not greet 2011 with my best face on, I did not have any hands to hold, I did not help count down the seconds, nor did count my blessings.

The entire next day I was mired in resentment. I was groggy and sore from laying around all day. Angry at myself for not at least waking up to see the ball drop. Feeling ugly and disheveled ...my New Year's Eve dress still hung in my closet. It was just another day...nothing special.

Here is where I begin to make my confessions. I'll admit that I felt cheated out of 2011. I felt left out and forgotten. Later, when I did go out into the world, I felt like a big disappointment. I had ruined everyone's New Year's Eve. Then I began to count the times I thought of myself.

On the Eve of 2011, I forgot to think of YOU. YOU who loves me with or without my make up. YOU who blows kisses from the door. YOU who tucked me in and checked on me all night. YOU who wished me well the next day. YOU who chooses to believe in me. YOU who pushes me to dream. YOU who makes me feel beautiful and present and at peace. When I closed my eyes before the stroke of Midnight, I forgot to thank the Universe for filling my life with YOU.

So I am doing it over...right now...New Year's Eve 2010-2011. I am closing my eyes, holding on tight and counting...I am counting all the YOUs that have made me LOVE. All the YOUs that have given me PEACE and all the YOUs that have been PRESENT.

Have a blessed and peaceful 2011! My resolution is to be there for YOU.