Art Of Tracy Verdugo Blog

Bonjour mes amis! Just a small post today as it is the weekend and I am in France with mi amor after all for the first time.... plus I actually wrote this whole blog last night and POOF!! It vanished...just like that! Oh well, what can we do?? I want you to know that I am writing this post with a French accent in my head so you must read it that way too d'accord? :) Grateful for these little heart rocks collected in Wales. The beaches there have the most I've ever seen!   THIS view from the window of our budget hotel the first night here~ the beautiful Chateau de Carcassonne!!  THIS view from our VERY BUDGET "chalet" our last night in Wales...we actually worried it might fall down the hill from the obvious termite damage AND its the first place we've ever stayed where the shower head was missing! But the views...oh my!! THIS perfect vista through an ancient window at the ruins of Tintagel Castle in Devon to the wi...

So grateful today to be able to move my body and also to have a man who appreciates and even  encourages my dorkiness. "Give me your best Kate Bush Wuthering Heights dance" He says,  and so I do.... So where did we leave off yesterday?  Oh right, I was going to tell you a story...... Off in the distance we could see a ruin And beyond that, a tall Celtic cross and a lighthouse..... A stumbled upon scene We had no idea.... We come to this sign and we learn about Dwynwen, the Welsh patron Saint of lovers who lived here on this land some 1600 years ago as a hermit.  Reading her story I feel infinitely grateful for the freedom that many more women now have over their own destinies although I know that there is still much room for change...... Dwynwen lived during the 5th century and legend has it that she was one of the prettiest of Brychan Brycheiniog's 24 daughters. Dwynwen fell in love with a prince called Maelon...

So grateful today to read all of your posts each one reminds me of the multitude of blessings we all have even in the darkest times we can focus on the small things that  bring us joy i'm also grateful for being lost  and found one brings us to a place which can feel scary but can also offer fresh perspectives elements of surprise spiritual epiphanies the other feels like coming home safe, nurturing, whole. but it would be hard to recognise one  without the other wouldn't it? ❤️ Tomorrow I'll tell you a little story  about getting lost and found earlier this week  on the enchanted Isle of Anglesey in Wales.  It involve s a walk through this forest.... And a fifth century Celtic saint who once lived beyond this gate.... Until then I'm super excited to announce the very first winner of my 22 days of gratitude and giveaways!! The winner for Day one is CINDY BENKO!!! Congratulations Cin...

Hello my little buttercups!! I know, I know........ its been a while between drinks, um posts! (she says while remembering a long pint of Guinness recently downed in an 800 year old pub)...... and I know this to be true, because as I type, I'm hearing me own voice in me own mind, read out these words with a distinctive, if a little mixed up English accent!! Yep that's right, we're finally here on UK soil, soaking up the scenery and history after a rigorous and wonderful tour of the U.S which saw me teaching twelve 2-5 day workshops in 12 weeks!!                                So I know you will understand when I tell you there wasn't much time for blog posts in the beautiful US of A but I had a fabulous time as always and felt my heart expand time and time again as I shared the Paint Mojo experience with students and friends, new and old! And so her...

HAPPY NEW YEAR LOVELY ONES!! Now that that we have finished eating and drinking copious amounts of delicious (and possibly naughty) treats, it's time to clear our heads, breathe deeply the wonder and magic of everyday inspiration, and make some space for new creative birthings! For some time now I have been feeling the stirrings of a creative revolution. I see it in the faces of my students as they light up with the recognition that they ARE inherently creative and that bringing forth that magic ripples outward into EVERY area of their lives! It's contagious! This past month magic has been happening big time in my world with one of my favorite authors and all round inspiring human beings, Elizabeth Gilbert, sharing my work several times on her FB page!!  Like, pick me up off the floor! Liz Gilbert loves my work!! I tried not to be all goofy about it, oh yeah, Liz is talking about my art.   That's kinda special...I'm cool with it... ...

Hola my little petunias! Yes its Spring here in Australia♥ Glorious wonderful Spring the time when I get a little goofy and say things like "Hola my little petunias!" the time when I get my hands in the dirt and plant some little seedlings  to provide us with summer salads the time when the beautiful Koels fly all the way from New Guinea to live in our backyard a while and wait for the mulberries to ripen a time for throwing open doors  and stepping out onto the balcony barefoot to greet the morning sun a time to stroll around the garden and revel in the  profusion of daisies and nasturtiums tumbling down the fence self seeded, just doing their own thing year after year... a time for completion, like this massive buffalo commission  I have been working on for more than a year finally finished  I have fallen in love with it ♥ but soon it will be on its way to Florida to live with my b...

Tonight I'm making pesto...from scratch...my mouth is salivating...but I am not without apprehension. Apprehension? Over pesto? Let me explain...... several years ago after a delish meal of homemade pesto, I slipped into my PJ's, squeezed some toothpaste onto my brush and had the oddest experience. The toothpaste didn't taste like toothpaste at all, instead, there was an overwhelming taste of bitterness I came downstairs and asked Marco and the girls to try the toothpaste.. does it taste weird to you? nope, all fine.... so strange, I thought and took myself off to bed... Over the next week things got worse EVERY single thing I ate had the same taste..bitter, bitter, bitter! apples, yoghurt, salad. chocolate, chicken, everything bitter! No differentiation whatsoever between foods.... It was like all of the different areas of my taste buds had been switched off  and turned to bitter sensors, sweetness, salty, sour, umami, all gone bitt...