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musings from the studio and beyond ~

dawn chandler’s reflections on art and life. . . .

Dawn Chandler

6 x 3 x 60 = peace

I stepped outside, crouched on the pavement and sat down on my dusty front door stoop. In my nine years living here, I don’t think I’d ever sat on the stoop. Maybe because the view from that angle is mostly pavement, concrete, stuccoed wall and taillights. This...

unphotographable* ~ a bosque blessing

We arrived an hour before sunrise. 14°. Too cold to simply park and wait. Usually we don’t have so much time to spare. Usually we go park by the Observation Deck where always other cars are parked. There we stand by water’s edge, our hands thrust deep in our pockets,...

my greatest joy today

You would have thought my greatest joy today was spending 3+ hours in my studio painting. Especially doing so while listening to a conversation with a wholly inspiring mastermind of creativity. Or signing my name, finally, to a painting I’ve been working on for weeks....

history and mystery in the new mexico landscape

My friend was incredulous. You’ve never been to La Cieneguilla? No, I replied. I’d never even heard of it. I can’t believe you’ve never been there! Two months later I had a similar exchange with another friend.You’ve never been to La Cieneguilla?! Oh my God, DAWN! I...

a benediction

nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished ~ Lao Tzu ~ I’d been feeling nervous about an upcoming backpacking trip. Though overall I’m in good shape (thank you Peloton), I hadn’t put in a whole lot of high-altitude hiking miles this season. My “hiking legs”...

I don’t know what to say about the fires…

but what any sentient person might say: The fires are horrifying. A consuming history- and life-erasing hurricane inferno of destruction and heartbreak. When I look at the map the fires are almost too big to grasp: The big fire — Hermits Peak — started in early spring...

another cup of tea

I get to….fix myself hot teahold a steaming mug in my handspull a wool shawl around my shouldersshift my weight in my cozy chairsip and gaze out my windowunbroken by bullets I get tostep into the showerturn on the wateradjust the temperaturelet hot water lavish my...