Everything usually starts with color for me. In this phase I’m observing and collecting. I’m taking note of what colors I’m drawn to, what colors I want to see them interact with. It's all about curiosity and discovery.

During this stage I play, I’m creating color stories, taking note of what combinations are interesting to me. Ideas are beginning to start bubbling up.

This is a spiritual phase for me and deeply personal. During this phase I give myself space to think, to be quiet and listen for His inspiration. That quiet listening is present in all the phases but during this phase, it’s very intentional. Exploring some of the ideas that bubbled up during the Play Phase to see where God is leading my creativity.

By this phase, I have gotten that “Aha” moment, an understanding of a concept that I explored during the Deep Thinking Phase. I’m excited and inspired to start and I work out some basic details; is it an idea for a single painting or a collection? Will it be canvas or paper? I set up the materials, and I begin a new journey.

These phases are not always so linear, often times I zig zag through them and back again before I know what I’m going to do. Othertimes I may just start and and work through a piece by responding to the marks or color as I’m inspired to while creating. There are no absolutes, at least for me ;)