Happy New Year 2026

15 Jan Happy New Year 2026

A new year, a new set of goals, new resolutions, renewed dedication to my “gratitude journal”, and a new suggestion from a friend … determine a significant word for myself for the year.

Hmmm, Faith?  Hope?  Believe?  Yes to all those important words but I want something a bit more specific to me, applicable and useable in all aspects of my life.  It was difficult for me to define what was stirring inside of me.  Finally, I settled on the word “intention”.  I feel it is worthy of a year’s focus – to make it a habit in my life at large, as well as down to my small tasks, and especially in my work.

So today in the studio I “intentionally” tried to express the essence of a shoreline landscape I often see on Highway 2 in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  I “intended” to do this as minimally as possible.  I worked in simple ink for a very limited palette and tried not to get bogged down with the details.  I gave thought (intention) to each sketch before I painted, one after another, for hours with no post-judgement.  (That will be another day).  For today, I found success in my attempt to be more intentional in the studio.

Thank you for being here, my friends.  Happy, Happy New Year!  Kathleen