Inspiration
A Voice in Ramah
Somewhere in the US, a police officer is breaking the news to a mother that her child is dead. Opening ourselves to the glory and joys of motherhood also exposes our hearts to the unimaginable possibility of loss; and in that possibility of loss is an endless grief. Praying for all the mothers that are grieving today and praying for an end to gun violence.
Read MoreLast Week at the Residency
Dispatches from Château d’Orquevaux
As we round out the last week of being here, I reflect on what the time has been like. It is hard to put into words all that this place is and means to me. I do not know how to properly express what I learned and how much rest it was for my soul. So, I will leave you, dear reader, with some beautiful images of this fairytale château.
Read MoreThe Source as a Metaphor for Spiritual Growth
I remember being a young person, caught up in the spiritual fever of charismatic Christianity. There was a nervous anticipation in each sacred gathering of being caught up by the Spirit. We waved our hands, spoke in tongues and prayed fervent prayers. Water that runs over rocks splashes and makes a lot of noise.
Read MoreA Rainy Day Helps Creativity Bloom
As I walked down the hill from that château to the studios in the stables, I snapped this picture of L’église Saint-André in the distance. The rain today highlights the patina of the church and the verdancy of the spring grass. The château is quiet today, artists all behind their studio doors working hard on painting, writing, film editing, and sculpting.
Read MoreLetters from France
I am writing to you today from Chateau d’Orquevaux in rural northeast France. The chateau sits atop a hill overlooking a pond filled by crystal clear water from a canal that runs along the edge of the little village of Orquevaux. There are perhaps only 80 people in the village, plus the 20 or so artists that come every month to the chateau to work.
It is ridiculously beautiful.
Read MoreHow I Turned My Regrets into Action
No one lives a life truly without regret. Regretting that we made that unkind remark or regretting our choice in which college we attended. Regret is a useful emotion. “Non, je ne regrette rien…”
Read MoreHEMPEL STUDIOS Year in Review- 2022
While it’s not a hilarious review like Dave Barry likes to write at the end of each year, I break my year down month-by-month and remember the highlights.
Read MoreA Few Ways to Embrace Coziness this Winter
The ways to embrace coziness are simple. Soft fabrics, fluffy blankets, dim lighting, candles, fireplace, warm tea, books, soft music, a warmth of spirit, and no electronics. Use this season to connect with yourself, with loved ones, and embrace the darkness.
Read MoreArt and Life: 4 Ways to Make Advent Special
Art is not the individual objects that I make in my studio, but it is the whole of life. I cannot remove myself from being an artist at home, neither do I cease being a mom when I am working in clay. How do I infuse a little bit of art and meaning in to my every life? How do I make my studio life a bit cozier? What are ways that I merge my different vocations into one person, one life?
Read MoreWaiting for the Light
…ritual without meaning is dead and meaningless. But ritual coupled with meaning is liturgy. Lighting candles during the darkest time of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere) can infuse this time with meaning and significance.
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