Painted Raven Studio

04/23/2025

Ready for takeoff! And weighing in at exactly 15 lbs …..Houston-Newark-Porto

04/22/2025

04/20/2025

ARTIST LIFE: When will I ever learn to stop putting things on the stove and then going into my studio to paint. Fun fact… if all the water evaporates while boiling eggs they will.all.EXPLODE! And I did put a timer on to remind me - and the timer DID go off, but I was like ‘what is that noise?’….hmm.. and kept right on painting. who is out getting me more eggs

04/18/2025

Where will I be sleeping on the Camino? I won’t be camping ….mostly I’ll be staying in albergues. An “albergue” is a Spanish word for a hostel, particularly referring to accommodations for pilgrims. In the photo this is a dorm setup but I’ll have the opportunity to also stay in private rooms and probably spurge on a hotel every 4 or 5 days especially if the snoring gets to be too loud and I REALLY need some rest. I’ll have a couple nights precooked but the rest, I’m going to wing it! It’s supposed to be an adventure right?? lol

04/14/2025

I’ve been asked how am I physically preparing for the Camino? Mostly I’ve increased the frequency of my workouts at Orange Theory- I’ve been going there for years but really upped my game in January when I started going 4-5 times a week including doubling up some days - how can you do back to back OT workouts? I’d be asked - my reasoning is if I can’t do a 2 hour workout, surely I won’t be able to handle the mindset needed to walk 6 hrs a day. Also - did long walks around Lake Hefner to make sure my shoes were nice and broke in! 10 days to go! 👟 👟 👟

04/07/2025

CAMINO FOOT WEAR and ‘how to avoid blisters’. Foot wear on the Camino is a pretty personal thing. You don’t need hiking boots (in fact they can add a lot of weight) so I’ve chosen Hoka trainers - 1/2 size up and in wide so a 10 1/2 W. I’ll also be taking a pair of Teva sandals. The idea is to wear the trainers half the day and then the ‘open’ sandals the second half. Socks: Injinji wool toe socks and sock liners - to avoid blisters slather on Vaseline all over bare feet, then toe socks and then the sock liners every morning. Take moleskin to cover any hot spots. And take plenty of breaks. Some bandages just in case but hoping I won’t need those. I’ll be sure and report back how that works!

04/05/2025

‘Grizzley’ …7” x 7” What a surprise - my paper collage piece from the OAG Small Works Show at Paseo One Gallery

04/03/2025

Here’s the backpack Ive chosen for my Camino - Osprey Kyte 38 - everything I’m taking with me will fit in here and I’ll be carrying it with me the whole way. Trying to keep it to 15 lbs ….will I be able to do it? That’s a whole other post…. I’ll be showing what I’m taking soon!! Curious what you think are must haves on a 2 1/2 week trek??

04/01/2025

This is the goal - this is the Santiago de Compostela which will be the END of my Camino starting in Porto - walking a total of 153 miles - I’ll only have my first night’s lodging booked in Porto - after that, I’ll book my lodging each day before I arrive. I’ll be carrying everything in my backpack - I’ll have make a separate post of what I’m bringing with me …..because I STILL don’t know what I’ll be bringing with me - all I know is I need to keep it to a total of 15 lbs (according to my handy guidebook)

03/22/2025

Did I mention I was doing a solo hike on the Camino Portuguese starting in April? No? Well I received my Pilgrimage credentials today! Eeekkk… So this IS happening….its almost a month away and can’t wait to share all the details as I prepare….if you’ve wanted to travel solo but a little afraid to take the leap, I hope you’ll follow along and get some encouragement because this is going to be quite the adventure!!! 🛩️🥾🌳

03/09/2025

Happy Sunday, Artists and Creatives! Every day is a new opportunity!

02/27/2025

BIG CHANGES!! Some of you may already know that I’m a federal employee and although having worked the past 5 years from home, we have been called back to the office full time and so I must comply- and as a result I’ll be closing my booth space at The Painted Tree in Edmond effective April 1. But don’t be sad - I’ll still be painting furniture and canvas art and sharing on social media. Just a pivot! The art will still be here AND I have an adventure planned in April - I’ll be hiking the Camino Portuguese for 2 weeks and I’m going to be sharing all my plans here with everyone - so a lot of great things are happening!! Collage Hosta art for attention - LOL!!

01/31/2025

All You Need is LOVE 💗 💗💕💐💗

01/30/2025

Heart of Gold 😍😍😍

01/29/2025

Heart Throb ❤️💐💋😍❤️

01/28/2025

Queen of Hearts! XOXOXO

01/27/2025

January has been a nice rest but it’s time to get back to work …and that means Valentine’s! But our hearts are also for family and friends not just our partners. I love taking these little 4” x 4” canvases that I’ve applied unused paint on all year and use them to make fun and different hearts!!

12/17/2024

‘WICKED’ Inspired Ornament using paint pour technique with new DIY colors Flirtatious, Electrified, New Moon and Eden from