My moments with these talented people of great innovation and creativity make me feel like I’m being lifted up to their world—just talking to them, hearing their creative process, watching them do their thing—and then I get to bring some of it home, and I always remember being inspired and moved by what I saw.

The annual Portland Open Studios event creates an opportunity for relaxed visits with friends and fans both new and long-loved, and plenty of unstructured time to look at the paint together. These connections nourish and meaningfully support my work (and our spirits) through the year.