DAY 27

This is our last day here at the franch. It has been the most marvelous, magical time.

It has been a time of struggling to get going on a new path, working hard, laughing a lot, sharing with friends from all over, and a lot of growth.

We owe so much to Karey for this very special time. Both Virginia and I were at a point in our careers as artists where we really needed this opportunity. It has proven very beneficial to each of us. We are both well on the road to a new body of work.

For me, I will finally have a cohesive collection of work so I can finally find a solo show venue that I have wanted to do for some time. I have a great sense of gratitude to Virginia for pushing me to get to 20 pieces, and I surprised myself by not giving at at 17 when I didn't think I would have enough batting to get past 19. I worked it out and got my 20 plus a number of smaller pieces, plus a piece that was entirely different from the others...in fact, it was my very first piece that I did.

We have spent our last evening at Las Fuentes with Karey. We haven't been there for an entire week and that has become a record for us. We spent a lot of time sharing with her our feelings about the experience and especially how wonderful it has been for the both of us.

Such an opportunity doesn't come often and we were both very fortunate that our family situations allowed for us to take advantage of this opportunity. It was the right time in our artistic careers...a time when we have matured as artists, have worked through a lot on our own and were in need to the time away to allow ourselves to grow in new ways.

It has been a privileged to become intimate with Virginia's work. I have told her that I feel she is an absolute genius as abstracting nature...you feel nature, when you look at her work. You don't see trees, or water, or whatever else, you just feel it in your soul. What a special artist!

I also want to thank all of you who have been so supportive of us during this process. I blogged about the process as I feel so many artists, just starting their journey as artists, think that it is always easy, and I felt that the creative process needs to be shared more so others can understand the ups and downs that occur. Just because you are not actually creating work does not mean that you are not working. Remember to take time to refill the well of inspiration. Take time to question what you are doing. Learn, which I have been doing, to trust your instincts and to make your own work. Seek your own voice and follow it. But most of all, have fun!

Sorry to get so philosophical but that is part of the leaving process.