Our house has windows that open to a box canyon and seven hills. The photos don't do justice. There is no capturing the deep and rocky, cedar covered 20 mile view up the Medina Valley. The walk down the hillside is full of rockslides, rolling stones. Walking stick imperatives.

I think this is such an important facet of our work as artists. Discovering our own certain and individual voices as artists is what can take us past our own limited view of our work and in new and exciting directions. It seems to me that there are several parts to this process, and several important approaches to this self-discovery process.

Delve into the fascinating world of the Sensory Alphabet, where your senses and perceptions play a pivotal role in shaping what you notice and create. I believe – and my belief is supported by more than 30 years of work with children in creative learning environments – that each of us is born with an innate preference/leaning toward a particular way of perceiving and giving form that is directly connected a vocabulary of non-verbal qualities – line, color, shape, space, light, texture, movement, sound and rhythm.

Just a passing glance or a deep slow study? Or somewhere in-between? Do you get tired at museums because there is just too much to see? Do art gallery openings excite, inspire or make you groan? Can you spend hours devouring art online or do you prefer your art diet IRL one-at-a-time?

The tomato bounty and more