Spring is Coming, I Can Feel It…

The signs are everywhere! The warm air, the song birds, the dandelions…

I can’t escape the feeling that we will soon be graced by flower blossoms and little green buds growing on the trees!

This is the most exciting time of year, a season of re-birth and revival. Life is everywhere, in the changing temperatures, the warm breeze, the blue skies filled with migrating birds.

I have been waking up every morning to the song of the cardinals outside my window. The male with his beat red chest, extended with each note as he takes his next breath. He sings songs to his bride, both of love and warning (usually when we are outside near their nest). Did you know Cardinals mate for life?

There are robins hopping around on my front lawn and I get the honor of watching them gather their morning breakfast from my studio window. We also have woodpecker that has been coming around the property. It usually hangs out on the is big oak tree on the front left-hand corner of our yard.

The birds aren’t the only thing thriving and preparing for spring, the bellies of the deer are growing rounder each week as we anticipate new spotted fawns.

I’m sure the opossum family living behind our shed will soon have babies following them around! Have you seen a baby opposum? My friend once had a baby hiding in her garage and I had to go let the little creature out of the home safely. It was the sweetest little thing.

My children and I are preparing for the new season by planting wildflower seeds and building birdhouses and planning our vegetable garden.

We plan to pick up little chicks soon, too. We used to have chickens a few years ago and we loved them so much. They bring such life to a tiny homestead! I loved watching them peck around for bugs and greet us with enthusiasm as we set out blueberries and watermelon rinds as a little treat. Usually my chickens would grace my Instagram feed here and there, popping in and out of my reels and my stories as I recorded myself painting and creating pottery and paper.

Spring is also a time of creativity for me. I brewed up so many new ideas over winter and spring is when these little seeds begin to sprout. If you don’t know this about me, if you are a new admirer or follower of my work, then I’d like to share with you that I am not just a painter…

I am actually many things! A bookbinder, paper maker, potter, gardener, and so much more.

Spring is when I want to honor all of my creative hobbies by making and playing and enjoying all of the gifts and passions God gave me.

I bought a new block of clay and bookbinding materials and I am excited to embark on new creative ventures in the studio.

I have ideas for new paintings, too!

I’m sure all of the wildflowers and baby chicks will inspire some small studies. Maybe they will even inspire some big paintings, (kind of like the large painting I have of Layla holding our friends chicken in his dairy farm).

I cannot wait for the Texas wildflowers to grace us with their presence! Bluebonnets and Indian blankets and daisies.

Our little town is having a Spring Festival this month and they have asked me to come paint live during the event!

I’ll be setting up my easel at the Santa Fe Plaza, paints and brushes in hand, stoked that I get to paint during my favorite time of year and chat and visit with my community.

If you’re in town, come say hello, I‘d live for the opportunity to visit with a friend.

I’m not sure what I’ll be painting yet…but you can bet it’ll have something to do with flowers!

And maybe chickens or goats…or cows…we will see…I think I’ll keep it a surprise ☺️

Is spring showing signs in your neck of the woods? Which is your favorite season, spring or fall?

Ta-ta for now…

Spencer