I honestly can’t not create. When I was an economic developer and consultant, I would push my creativity aside until my “real work” was done, which resulted in an eruption of frantic activity when I couldn’t stand it any longer. Think: “I need to spray paint that chair gold, then write poetry all over it.” That happened.

I started taking vacation days to go on art retreats and got the bug to open Ephemera Paducah, my art and craft studio. For ten years, I hosted the best of the best teaching instructors and also taught classes myself. After closing I realized I didn’t miss having most every weekend booked 12-14 months in advance, but I sure did miss teaching and the camaraderie of students.

First and foremost, nature – birds, dogs, flowers, animals of all kinds. Landscapes like mountain ranges or the ocean’s edge. When I explore a new city, my eye goes to color and shape, like the doors and windows in Greece or flowers spilling out of a window box. 

If I have to concentrate, I put earbuds in and settle down someplace busy like a coffee shop. To make art, I have to see my choices of paints, threads, papers, etc. Luckily, I have a converted 4-car garage as my Studio, which looks out into a lovely undeveloped piece of land. I can have various stations set up around the space. If I am by myself, something predictable is playing in the background like Law & Order or Project Runway. Silence is not my friend in the Studio!

I should mention that I have a Master’s Degree in Planning. I am methodical about lesson planning and estimating the time it will take for demonstrations, class work time, and questions. Hopefully, the students don’t notice we are on a schedule, but I feel like they deserve to learn as much as I can teach in the time allotted. I am pleased when we cover more than they expected and always have bonus material for fast workers. 

I try to balance the planning with opportunity and understanding that everyone works at their own pace. Leaving room for one-on-one consultations is always part of the plan.

I can’t remember a time I went on a trip and didn’t commemorate it in some way — photo collage, scrapbooking back in the day, travel journals. Picking up ephemera, objects, bits and bobs along the way is part of the fun for me. Putting them all in one place makes me happy. 

When I started teaching in this genre, I mistakenly assumed a shared knowledge base about whatever medium we were in. I underestimated that what I knew was valuable to someone else. A wise teacher told me “knowing what the materials will do is half the battle.” Understanding these concepts and infusing joy in my classes is probably why folks attend my classes.

Gosh – that is a good one!

Travel Light – Some of the best work I’ve done is when I’ve limited my supplies.

Pre-choose a color palette to work in — paints, floss, fabric, etc.

Pack your supplies in something you don’t mind lugging around. You’ll be more apt to take your art supplies on the go if they are manageable and cute

Pick up odd things along the way. Whatever you are attracted to and is portable

Take tons of photos for inspiration