Take Spain with You.

I’ve committed myself to writing a blog post once per week.

The intention behind it is to keep myself in a constant, consistent state of seeking inspiration and / or expressing creativity in my everyday life.

Art has a magic about it.

A good book can teleport one into a distant foreign land, reveal a new perspective on a subject, or trigger a new thought that becomes a domino effect for an exciting project or endeavor.

Experiencing art in person has the ability to touch a soul.

And of course, art is not limited to acrylic paintings.

Art also includes experiencing a live band play music, standing room. It includes traveling to a different country and breathing in their architecture, their history and culture. Art is experiencing in full presence, the moment—the current, present moment we are in, and being grateful for it, taking it all in.

In 2010, I travelled abroad to Madrid, Spain to study international law for six weeks.

That trip was transformational—truly life changing for me.

It was my first time leaving the United States and visiting another country. Ever. And, I did not know anyone who was going to participate in the program. And I barely spoke the language.

It was the first time I lived by myself, in a different country.

What I remember most from my experience was how present I was.

I’m sure this was due to survival. I could not afford to lolly gag and live in my head; I needed to pay attention to my surroundings. But it was also a completely new experience for me. I was taking in all the sights.

I distinctly remember my room, and how I loved viewing the sun rise and set from my window on the fourth floor.

My view consisted of the rooftops and these incredible mountains that appeared behind them, far away in the distance.

The sunset made some crazy colorful variations each day. And I would enjoy the sights in pure silence.

I had an incredible time in Spain.

And I vowed to come back home as a new person. A person who took Spain wherever she went.

When I came home, I researched manual expresso makers, and spent years learning how to perfectly craft my favorite cup of coffee to mimic the cafe con leche I drinked at least twice per day.

And I vowed to try to live as many moments, where I took in the sunrise, the way I did there in my small dorm room.

For me, this is what I’m seeking with writing this blog, and also, what I’m seeking everyday as an artist—when I’m in or outside the studio.

Being an artist and pursuing as many moments as possible creating art, is really all about seeking to live as many moments as I did in Spain.

Carefree, for the most part. Grateful, with a silent, present mind. Perfectly at peace to be in solitude yet open to experiences of new places, restaurants, sights, music and getting to know new people. Trying things outside of my norm. Walking, outside. Taking in the small, many times priceless, yet, the most meaningful things and moments, in life.

For me, this is what art is about.

And it does not mean that we must be a painter, sculptor, writer, musician, singer in order to create “art” in our lives.

This moment can be “art.”

And it’s art when you love it.