It was the first art walk of 2026. I happen to rediscover every day that painting is my favorite thing to do. Picasso said, "You have to be working to get inspiration." But it seems to me to be a symbiotic thing; I get "high" and happy in a zen-like way from painting and then... I want to paint again.
This year I have been teaching a bunch and I always paint when I'm teaching. It puts me in the same mindset as my students... and stops me from hovering.
But I interrupt myself to check in with how everyone's painting is going. To see if I can be of assistance without offering too much of my own direction as a choice.
The upshot is that I get to experience how much love people have for their own work. And then to bask in it. It's an honor.
Part of the ramification yesterday was ... when the day dawned and the art walk was in the air, I knew the happiest thing I could do was to be in front of Medicine Bird, where so much of my work can be found, and just paint!
I went back today to finish. Yet more inspiration!
In Livingston, Montana this June, we are having a Time! And this painting shows it.
The auction is live and will run until Wednesday, July 1st at 8pm MST