Sitting on our balcony at the Hyatt in Sedona I`ve been looking at our hiking photos while taking in the view. I don`t know what`s better, sitting, looking and absorbing the view, or hiking and being a part of the natural landscape and seeing it, feeling it, smelling it, hearing it and being a part of it up close. Both have their magical moments. Upsides and downsides. ...

Took a refreshing hike in Fay Canyon the other day while on our Sedona vacation. Really glad I work out with a trainer twice a week doing strength and balance training. Hiking poles are a must since the ground is rough with rocks, pebbles and boulders to climb over. So glad that someone offered to take photos of both of us together. We have so many shots of each other that you`d think we were on vacation alone. Ha! ...

On the Times Square billboard during the No Kings Protests on Saturday, October 18th, Ceres Gallery posted a graphic I designed featuring the Pink Paperclip. ⁠
⁠
The Paper Clip Protest was reintroduced by E. Jean Carroll, the woman who won two lawsuits against Trump. She wrote in her column, “Comely Reader! I suggest we all start wearing the paper clip. Subtler than a red hat, more powerful as a CONNECTION.” She explained they were also worn during World War II as a sign of resistance against the Nazis.⁠
⁠
Norwegian teachers and students wore paper clips to signal their opposition to Nazi occupation. They attached them to their lapels and wore them as jewelry, a symbol of solidarity binding them together as paper clips did with papers. It was a quiet act of defiance, expressing that Norwegians remained united against Nazi rule. ...

What an interesting show this is. Very unusual and perfect for the Halloween season. My work was juried into this "Imagination" exhibition but the other work in this show is very, very different. There are a lot of excellent and imaginative works for you to see. Give yourself a treat and go to see this fascinating show. Mills Pond Gallery, 660 New York 25A, St James, NY. ...

Here I am, putting the finishing touches on my latest painting, Cosmic Iris. She`s a 36x36" oil on canvas. This painting was inspired by a gentle shade of coral iris I grow in my garden, named Beverly Sills. Why this painting decided it wanted to be loud and brash is beyond me. Maybe it`s because Beverly Sills was a famous opera singer. I think she would have appreciated this broad energy since she also projected that energy too. ...

Did you ever notice how often you step just beyond where your body wants to be? That is what creeps up on me on hot summer days in the garden when I`m digging, pushing, pulling and totally enjoying myself. I get so engrossed with what I`m doing that I just push past the warning line. When does it happen to you and what do you do about it? Read my latest Substack article about this issue. https://maryahernartist.substack.com/p/taking-responsibility ...

The latest edition of my Connoisseurs Newsletter was sent out. It`s filled with glimpses into what`s new in my studio and what`s happening in the garden. Additionally, it announced two upcoming exhibitions and my latest articles, which were published on Substack. If you missed this newsletter, you can view it online. Link in Bio: https://mailchi.mp/ca51471b5df0/2025-10-03-maryahernartist-newsletter⁠ ...

Bugs for me were always icky. They made me jump away and scream when I was a kid. Probably because the boys loved to throw them at us just to get that reaction. Well, fast forward, and I still jump when a bug lands on me unexpectedly. It`s a pretty difficult situation to avoid when you`re a gardener. Read about how bugs changed everything in my art in my latest Substack article, "Why I Paint Big Flowers". ⁠
Link in Bio. https://maryahernartist.substack.com/p/why-i-paint-big-flowers ...

Today and for a few weeks (in our family, we call that our Birthday season) I`m celebrating turning 78. I celebrate since I have wisdom I`ve earned over time, strength I continue to build upon, generosity I can share since I am not poor in spirit, and kindness since I have received it in times when I was in most need. Age isn`t a number. Age is an attitude. At times I feel ageless. Others, not so much. But I`m proud of the effort I put into living my life fully. I don`t take any day for granted and have an abundance of gratitude that I`ve been able to stay healthy and this active. Happy Birthday to me! ...

Today was the opening of the Salmagundi show with my "Sunflowers With Makkum Pot - Homage to van Gogh". The show is on view through Oct. 3rd. Here is the official announcement: Opening today, step into an oasis of botanical beauty in our ground-floor Rockwell gallery. This year`s annual floral exhibition, in honor of major benefactor Sylvia Maria Glesmann, presents a stunning array of floral paintings; each a vibrant testament to nature`s colors and forms. View the artwork at: ⁠
https://salmagundi.org/2025-scny-glesmann-floral-exhibition/ ...

Recently, someone who came to my studio looked around at all the walls and asked whether I only ever paint flowers. The question stopped me in my tracks. It seemed like a judgment. That somehow, I was a limited artist who couldn’t paint anything else. I guess the word "only" made a difference to me. Every once in a while, I’ve heard this type of statement, but for some reason, this time it struck a chord with me. Perhaps it was because the person who asked it was also an artist. Read More on Substack: https://maryahernartist.substack.com/p/do-you-only-ever-paint-flowers ...