My studio challenge involves the study of color in my palette choices for new work in oil. I experiment with transparent hues, applying them with my fingers in a technique called alla-prima. Each studio session is a quest to capture a mood, creating abstract landscapes that evoke a sense of beauty. Inspiration strikes me in various ways. Sometimes, it's a textured surface that guides my intuition; other times, a smooth canvas provides just the right touch. Claude Monet once said, What keeps my heart awake is colorful silence, and those words resonate deeply with me. Art has been a part of my life since childhood, thanks to my grandmother, who let me play with her professional supplies. My passion for painting was solidified when I encountered Seurat's La Grande Jatte at the Art Institute of Chicago—a moment that literally knocked me off my feet. My studio may be cluttered, but it's organized chaos! Amidst preparing for workshops and navigating the uneven floors of my 1920s Craftsman house, I find my creative flow. During the summer months, I retreat to my Lake Effect Art Studio by Lake Superior, where my spacious work table—a repurposed maple wood butcher block—serves as the epicentre of my artistic endeavours.