My favorite time to paint and create is early in the morning or late into the night while everyone is sleeping. I love the quiet solitude and space to unwind and play in the studio without interruption from my sweet family and friends or the outside world. Creating, painting and writing has always been an outlet for me, but not something I have felt comfortable sharing. My art has always felt deeply personal and something I felt I needed to keep safe and close to my heart. But this past year I am feeling a deeper need for connection outside of my family and circle of friends and wanting to share more of myself and my art. I will be sharing my new work, my process and random adventures in my studio stories and on social media and I hope to see and hear from you in the new year. Take good care. XOXO, Sonya

Walking into my studio this morning with a feeling of newness and wonder after a lengthy absence of creating and making art.

This past year has been met with fear, grief and immense heartache. Caring for and losing someone we love is something we all experience in our lifetime. My sweet mother passed away from cancer in May and I am feeling all of the emotions that come with losing a parent. A day does not go by without a memory of her dropping into my heart. Her words of wisdom and playful humor drift in each day while chatting with family or friends, on long walks with my pups, folding laundry and always when I’m in the kitchen preparing a meal or making cookies. She is with me, in my heart, cheering me on and encouraging me to do all the things, only as a mother can. These past few weeks I have felt her, nudging me, to get back at it and step into my studio and begin again. I hear her words that she whispered back in April, to paint in colors other than blue, to paint from the heart, stay present and to enjoy and savor the gifts life gives us.

XOXO, Sonya