General

You probably know that I am all about books! For my upcoming workshop in Paris, An Illustrated Feast, I’ll share with participants a list of recommended reading. I’m also sending everyone a must-read Paris food book that will be a fun surprise.

Want to be a foodie artist with us in Paris? All the info is here to get your seat for An Illustrated Feast. 

Now, onto my reading plan for 2026 which I am very excited about.

What’s your reading plan for 2026?

I don’t typically feel the need to plan or organize my reading much. I am in a local book group and last year I was also in a group hosted by Kristen Tate. I still had plenty of time to read random books that come onto my book radar.

But I craved something more for this year. I didn’t feel inspired by a goal of reading a certain number of books.

Then I saw Hook Me A Book’s 2026 Reading Challenge. Here’s their post that captured my interest: 🌎 Reading the World 🌍

Greetings book friends!

I invite you to join in my #ReadingTheWorld challenge for 2026.

There are no hard-and-fast rules, only that you read books from 24 different countries: two per month, January to December. How you interpret this is up to you. You could make it easy and simply go by setting, or take the tough route and focus on translated fiction. Or maybe just see where the challenge takes you.

We have a lively chat group, where we share recommendations, discuss what we’ve read, and generally provide support and inspiration.

If you’re up for a challenge and fancy joining in the fun, please first follow your host @hook.me.a.book and admin @sslovesbooks. Then comment ‘I’m in’.

Looking forward to welcoming you on board! ✈️

~ Hook Me A Book

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What do you think? Does this inspire you? It galvanized me. I love the idea of expanding my horizons in this way. I started a spreadsheet and so far have a dozen books on the list.

It’s fun searching for books to read in places I am traveling. The group chat is inspiring and I am getting recommendations there. So far several books from my book group make my list:

History of the Rain by Niall Williams

We Are Green and Trembling by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara

My Name is Emilia Valle by Isabelle Allende

So far this year I have read:

The Homemade God Rachel Joyce (Italy)

The Artist and the Feast Lucy Steeds (France)

All Fours by Miranda July (currently re-reading for book group)

Do you make a reading plan for the year or wing it as I usually do? Share your reading plan below.

What I don’t want to tell you
What I’d rather hide
What must be overcome

I’m scared. You too?
The smell in the air?
Rubber meeting road. Burning. Run. Hide. Avoid.

What’s the problem? What’s this current fear?

Launching my book into the world.
Sending up flares to spread my message far and wide.
Asking for reviews.
Continuing to show up for the book
even when I am ready to play with other projects.

What I want for the book:

Read it. Do the work. Write your book.
Change the world.
No more hiding your voice, your message, your power.

That’s what I want for anyone who wants to write a book.
The courage to do it. To open up your heart and share.

I return again and again
to why this book matters
why this book holds more strength and courage
than I do some days.

It’s time. It’s time for all of us to
Step it up.
I stand upon
my fears, my excuses, my inclination to play it safe.

I step up instead of
hiding behind.
Join me.
Let your bold moves and works of art
ignite the world with love and power.

Now is the time.
To send copies of my book to strangers
to ask for help
to keep pushing past outdated fears to get. my. message. out.

Even if it’s only one person in the world
whose life will be changed by my book
that’s enough.

What fears
will you disbelieve today
what bold moves will ignite the world?

Share your bold moves below.

The 100 Day Project was so much fun! In case you missed my recap of what I gleaned from doing 100 paintings in 100 days, check it out here.
I’m hosting an exhibit of the watercolor paintings I did for the project this Friday. My friend Alix Christian also did 100 watercolor paintings and she’s hosting our show in her art studio.
The show is one night only, so if you’re in Colorado, be sure to come check it out!

Details

Friday, August 14th only
5:30 – 8:30 pm
4593 N. Broadway, C-105
Boulder, Colorado
The studio is in a cluster of art studios behind the shops facing the street. Can’t wait to see you there!

If I were the book fairy giving out books this year, here’s what I would want everyone to have:

The Lotus and the Lily by Janet Conner I already recommended this, but now that I have completed the process, I am blown away. The book invites readers to create a mandala at the end of the process. I cannot tell you how potent that was for me. I am deeply moved by what emerged. I cannot wait to see how it all plays out in 2015!
Whatever You Are, Be a Good One by Lisa Congdon  This is a great gift book for yourself or anyone in your life. My favorite illustrator Lisa Congdon hand lettered quotations by famous people for her blog. Chronicle Books made it into a lovely book.
Finally, because everyone needs a good notebook, check out Moleskine’s Dotted Notebook! At the art store the other day, I spotted this from a distance and knew I needed it. It’s got a dot grid pattern on the pages, which I love. I will be using this notebook to plot my big creative project next year.
What’s your short stack of books that you would give this year? Three bookish items. Share your three favorite gift books in a comment below.

I’m in a weird place with my art making. I know I want to advance, but I don’t even know where I’m going. I’m okay with that, but I also am impatient to feel the kind of progress I crave. How to feel focused and challenged?
When I find myself floundering, or frustrated, or wanting more satisfaction with my art making, I turn to my tried and true structure: art school curriculum.
My current areas of study include:

• drawing (always on the roster)
• painting (ditto above)
• visual storytelling – illustration + text
• hand lettering

I crave assignments and challenges. So I’ve designed a blend of projects and classes for April, May and June, to give me the kind of focus I need. My Original Impulse work is really busy. I’ve got a large, important project I am working on for the next six months in addition to my coaching, teaching and writing. So it’s necessary to devise boundaries to work on my art.

My coursework

Koosje Koene teaches art online from her studio in Amsterdam. I recently took Draw it Like it’s Hot – a food drawing class. And I am in the middle of her Character Drawing class.
Hand Lettering course with Sean Wes – I’ve been waiting for this for awhile and am excited to start. I’m doing the Master level class and am so excited to learn more about how to do hand lettering and how to do it on a professional level.
Life Drawing sessions at RedLine Gallery

Projects – Map Making

There are three maps I want to make:
They Draw and Travel and Uppercase map contest – the creative and curious places in my neighborhood. I’m excited to look at a one-mile radius of my home in Denver and map the fun stuff.
My Faves – Boulder and Paris – as part of my Capture the Wow Excursions this year, I want to make maps of my favorite places.
This course of study is as exciting as it is daunting. Wish me luck!