A couple of years ago a published writer and musician told me about residencies. Being an artist and someone who loves to travel, I dove in searching for opportunities that called to me. There’s now a growing list of outreach experiences, and the variety of interests excites me in all ways.

I don’t travel as a tourist looking out of a bus window. SLOW travel is my style. I want to be with the people; immerse in their culture, understand them, be among them, and learn “life” from them. There is always an exchange, a giving and a soulful receiving — no one is ever the same. My first-ever residency was in Cantabria, Suances, Spain. A dream came true to go into caves and study the ancient rock art drawings created up to 50,000 years ago. 

Check out my Spanish Rock Art Residency Page>

There is no denying the impact of my first visit to India in 2023. This was before I even knew about residencies; but it paved the way for me in so many ways. In my forthcoming book Beckoned to Become, I tell how this trip to India was my ‘End Game’. *

That is, until I was inside the courtyard with a hundred orphaned children who stole my heart. I didn’t want to leave, and they wanted me to come back. Last year’s second trip launched an art outreach for the children to explore expressing their feelings and emotions in a creative way. Art from the ❤️ is a new beginning for all of us!

* Only to find a game changer — in that India became a residence for me, where I leave a suitcase of Indian clothes for my frequent return.