Watch now (2 mins) | A paint with G&J workshop, spots left for my August workshop and more!

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	Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Gayle Kabaker is a painter, writer, teacher and visual storyteller   Watch now   San Miguel Allende - looking for light & finding connection A paint with G&J workshop, spots left for my August workshop and more! Gayle Kabaker Feb 24   READ IN APP   Join me and Jennifer Orkin Lewis for Fun Faces - A zoom workshop. March 9th, 1-3 pm. Check it out HERE March 9 - Zoom workshop There are still a few spots left for my August 23 & 24 workshop Aug. 23 & 24 Workshop Hello! I began writing this sitting in a tiny cafe near the Airbnb I was staying at by myself in San Miguel Allende, having an almond latte and a croissant. Vegan for 12 years, but especially when traveling, fresh croissants are my downfall, my weakness! So once in a while I indulge! I am finishing this in my old/new studio, isolating and thankfully feeling better after getting covid a few days after I got home. (please excuse if I am rambling or if any typos - covid brain?) I had a studio on our property for 18 years until 12 years ago after the kids both left we turned it into a one bedroom rental apartment and I moved my studio into a nice room in the house. We’ve had a number of wonderful tenants and never had an issue renting it - until this fall when not one but two people paid first, last and a deposit then bailed! My studio in the house has been just fine for me, but I’ve been itching to paint bigger and even looked at some raw space in town. So I decided that this was the universe telling me that it was time to take the apartment back to being my studio! It’s a bit of a scary leap, but it’s done! My week spent with seven other women artists, painting, drawing, connecting, laughing, exploring San Miguel, finding all the best coffee places and being so inspired, was just incredible. Six of us had been together last year in Oaxaca, but Emily McDowell couldn’t come this year so we invited rock star urban sketcher Maru Godas to join us. Lori Siebert , Charlotte Hamilton, Samantha Dion Baker, Michelle Allen, Jennifer Orkin Lewis, and Mokshini are all wonderful artists who you should check out! (And ho hum, Mokshini is in an Estee Lauder campaign.) Traveling is always about connection for me. Especially when I am by myself. In the video you’ll see other people, mostly women that I met, like amazing artist Kambria Anton, who spoke to us in line waiting for coffee when she heard us trying to figure out the best place to sit and draw at the market. She’s lived in SM for 10 years and offered to show us some good spots. We connected after the group left and had lunch and I got to see her amazing work and home. WOW!! Two women sitting across from me at the only vegan restaurant in town, saw me drawing and asked me to draw them. Luckily (I don’t get asked this too often and) I was so warmed up it actually came out looking a little like them! Back to the week with the group. We made an agreement to not talk politics during our week together. After they all left I had some time to paint on my own and news began to creep in and I wrote for this newsletter about how personal the Kennedy Center takeover is for me as I had an exhibition of 100 portraits for Vital Voices there. While so much of what is happening now is so scary and could even be life threatening for many people, not just in the US. but all over the world, this takeover of the Kennedy Center really hit home for me. The artists who have canceled shows, left the board, etc., will impact so many people. Right now, supporting artists to create is more important than ever. This morning after my morning meditation practice I looked at this newsletter again and decided instead to make the video ( at the top of this very long newsletter) capturing my time in San Miguel. I was so inspired after listening to the interview ‘Find Your Tingle and Live Wild with amazing artist Justina Blakeny on the We Can Do Hard Things podcast. Find Your “Tingle” & Live Wild with Justina Blakeney Glennon Doyle and Audacy Episode She talks about many inspiring and relatable things, and how meditating daily changed her life. You know how you need to hear something many times before it sinks in? I’ve meditated and journaled regularly before but not in a long time. I’m BACK to it. In the newsletter that I am scrapping, I wrote about how dark these times are and how as artists we need to look for the light. I realized while making the video this morning that the whole San Miguel trip for me was about looking for ‘light.’ Photographing and painting beauty and light, walking and climbing the very steep hills of San Miguel, stopping to take photos of each other because the light was great, or the background was beautiful, drawing EVERYWHERE, all the heartfelt talks, time spent like this with other artists is incredibly ‘soul filling.’ Is that even a word? If not it should be! Focusing on our own creativity, focusing on light instead of darkness and despair. And being conscious of how we can not only find light and solace in our own creativity, but help others and lift them up as well. I live in the country and can easily retreat to my little bubble. I will continue to limit my news intake, but stay informed and do what I can do. ( not sure how that looks exactly yet) focusing on how to stay strong, grounded, and engaged in a healthy way during these insane times. I teach people, alone and with Jennifer Orkin Lewis how to draw and paint and keep a a sketch book, and this is a therapeutic skill for everyone. Instead of doom scrolling, pull out your pen and small sketch book and doodle or write for yourself, not to show anyone! August Workshop There's a few spots left in my August workshop at my place in Western Massachusetts where we will focus on all of this - furthering your sketchbook practice if you already have one and learning how to start one if you don't. You’ll be with like minded people for a weekend that will truly fill you up with inspiration and ideas that you will take home, and who knows where it will lead you with your own creative journey! I am going to focus on beauty and light and not on the darkness. “ In the midst of darkness light persists.”Gandhi. Oh my goodness, if you made it this far - thank you! I’m taking commissions. I have prints for sale in my shop. As always, I love hearing from you. xo Gayle Invite your friends and earn rewards If you enjoy Gayle Kabaker's substack, share it with your friends and earn rewards when they subscribe. Invite Friends   Like Comment Restack   © 2025 Gayle Kabaker 13 NORMAN RD, Ashfield MA 01330 Unsubscribe