Look up

more without a map

Mar 06, 2026

Thinking about maps lately. I use to be obsessed with maps, maybe I still am. I love a an old city map or a topographical pulldown map showing where the rivers and mountains and oceans are. What touches, what is far. But I’ve been thinking lately about how maps are made up. Humans made them. Maps are ways humans see the land and sea, the universe even. We look and record but with our lens. The bigger it is, the more likely it’s on the map. Why do I have the map on while I drive around my neighborhood? Do maps take away more than they give? What about exploring a place for the first time? We look for whats on the map, not at whats in front of us. Maps are made up. These lines are made up. The land goes from here to there seamlessly, the people are found on both sides. Maps tell us that they are different. They are not.

I’ve been reading this book on writing. Page by page, in tiny bitesize moments. Ideas I learned : small dish filled with items related to your story on your desk, if you write everyday, call yourself a writer.

Went to see the geese afterschool twice this week. “Can we go back to our site,” he said. “I just love throwing rocks in the water.” so we did.

Sitting at Blanchards in Forest Hill and I am listening to conversations unfold on either side of me about how people spend their days. Their words jump out of the conversation and onto my page. On my right I hear: “data” and “legacy” and “standard” and “functionalities” and “migration" and “field” and “intuitive.” The use of a word like “streamline” to discuss the fastest way to get someone to click verses a picture of a stream headed in the direction it wants to forge, smooth and fast. On my right I hear “habitat” and “home” and “help” and “support” and “governance” and “board” and “bylaws” and “resources” and “ordinance” and “city hall.” What words would someone overhear me using?

When you meet someone and they do not ask you a single question, that is not a conversation. That is a monologue and you do not have to stay for it.

Sitting in the living room, it’s dark out. I opened the window when I came down this morning and the birds are chatting. It feels like spring could be here any minute.

Sending off files, updating them, re-sharing new versions, wrapping up a painting, writing a thank you card, packaging them up together, grabbing brushes, moving the rocks over to glue more and then put them back on the page, seeing the watercolor dried light so adding another later on top, or two, cutting out stars, cutting out fields, cutting out tree tops and layering them, drawing with paint on the wall, slowly, on bumpy brick, iPad set up to grab a timelapse or two, talking to neighbors, bikers wave and say good job, going over lines again and again, running to pick up one kid, then another, then home and milk and snack and nap / quiet time, then play and dinner and clean up and dishes and vacuum and bath time and handing off and handing back and then quiet. Then key in the door to the studio and start part two for the day.

Reading about “creative hangover” as a concept and yes.

Working on an outdoor mural for Emily Warden Designs in Richmond, VA. Realizing this is my first outdoor mural in Richmond. I was thinking back to my first ever outdoor mural on the corner of 10th and Ave. C in the East Village in New York City. I set up my supplies, feeling like I was playing the role of artist. I bought spray paint because I thought I needed to use spray paint for an outdoor mural - how else would I cover such a big space? Flash forward to yesterday and I am rummaging through my brushes in my studio to find my smallest brush.

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”- Albert Einstein

I announced my book last week. People reaching out in the sweetest ways.

Drove to William and Mary last night with for the opening of our show “Handmade.” Working with the student curators was so fun. Bringing some of my recent work to hang along side student work was so fun. Meeting students who love and make art with their hands was so fun. Here’s to pitching more ideas like this show in 2026.

This week has been so full that I haven’t yet crossed to-dos off my to-do list that I have done. That is rare.

Clay class tonight. We sat at a wheel and made bowls then picked our glaze. Mine, clockwork. Hers, sunny.

Stumbled upon a secret garden that I’ve walked past many times before. Note to self- more without a map, turn down new streets, look up.