Norms can be a tricky business. In some cases, they can be a positive force, helping to foster shared values, compassion, and connection. In other instances, however, they can seed unhelpful feelings of shame, burnout, and disconnection from others. 👇🏼🧵

Stampede puppy is ready to party! 🤠🐶 #Calgary #BTposse #DogsOfBluesky

An artist with a day job decides to take a big risk to share their art with the world. No, this isn’t my story — although it could be. 🧵👇 #Illustration #KidLit #KidLitArt #ChildrensBooks

Absolutely loving this paint-by-number that I’ve been chipping away at between other art projects for months. It’ll probably take me until the end of the year to finish, but it’s so going to be worth it. 🎨🥰 #Painting #PaintByNumber

Lucy was looking especially adorable on our walk tonight. Must’ve been the cheese. 🥹🧀 #BTposse #TerrierTuesday #DogsOfBluesky

When I started my newsletter/blog three years ago, it was born out of my sense of frustration and outrage at feeling leashed to the social media behemoth. You can read how my relationship to social media has evolved in the 89th edition of Athena's Art Newsletter.

Lucy is very conscientious about making sure we’re all properly groomed. 😅 #BTposse #DogsOfBluesky

And now for your listening pleasure, the musical stylings of Lucy playing her squeaky ball. 🐶🎶 #BTposse #TerrierTuesday #DogsOfBluesky

All work and no paint-by-number makes Athena a dull gal. 😅 #Painting #PaintByNumber

A few snapshots from our walk along the Bow River with the pup last night. I think one of these is going to end up as a painting someday. 🥰🌅 #Calgary #PaintingInspiration

Me: Lucy, I'm trying to work on the picture book here. Lucy: But... belly rubs? 🥺🐶 #BTposse #DogsOfBluesky

We stopped in to visit some folks I know who are working on a new mural just across from the Telus Convention Centre downtown. They’ll also be touching up the CUPS mural on the side of the same building. Doug was the original artist behind that one too—30 years ago! 😳🕊️ #Calgary #MuralArt

Poor Lucy. 😅 The pup was minding her own business when this magpie came by and began trying to tweak the tip of her tail! It wasn’t like it was attacking her and just seemed to want to tease her no matter how often Lucy chased the bird off. #BTposse #DogsOfBluesky

My world looks very different when compared to where I was this time last year—and not just because I was in the midst of my lengthy hospital stay. While I might look fully recovered now, there have been significant changes. Read more in my newsletter. athenacreative.substack.com/p/what-recov...

While I've been doing a great deal of digital painting of late for the picture book, there's still something about good old-fashioned brushes and paint that persistently calls to me. Learn how this acrylic painter is dipping her toe into the world of oil painting. #Art #Painting #OilPainting

Unwinding this evening with my latest paint-by-number after a full day of iPad digital painting work on the picture book. Phew… sometimes I really just need to paint with real paint. 🎨 😮‍💨 #PaintByNumber #Painting

A little over a month ago we had to say goodbye to our sweet senior pup, Lola. She lived 15.5yrs and brought her light to everyone who met her. She passed peacefully on our bed surrounded by her family—myself, my husband and young Lucy all by her side. #BTPosse #DogsOfBluesky #RescueDog #SeniorDog

I have been planning my dream accessibility renovation for so many years. As an artist, I knew I wanted our space to be beautiful, but as a disabled woman and wheelchair user, I knew it also needed to be functional for both myself and my able-bodied husband. 🧵👇

Lola changed my world—and my art!—when I adopted her back in 2010. Now, as we face the challenges that came with her recent health scare, I am just thankful for every moment that we have with her. #DogsOfBluesky #SeniorDog #RescueDog #Painting

15yrs ago, I had the honour of carrying the torch during the Paralympic Relay in Vancouver. Those were heady days, and the country seemed to be overflowing with national pride. 🇨🇦 Today, #Canada is living through very different times... 🧵👇

I’ve become a little obsessed with the Finch #SelfCare app these past few weeks. This morning my birb, Frankie, is looking especially Canadian as he hangs out in Vancouver sporting blue jeans and flannel. I love that he kinda looks like a cozy, off-duty air force pilot. 😅🧵👇🏼 #MentalHealth

Creating art has often been a way for me to process my anxiety about forces that I can't control, and there is quite a bit going on in the world right now that fits that description. Read my latest post about how March promises to be a busy and stressful month for a great many reasons.

#BlueSkyArtShow - Monochrome A couple way, WAY back sketches from my animation school days. I loved this life drawing exercise where we were asked to draw the light on black paper. It’s something I’d love to experiment with again someday. #FebruArty #Sketch #LifeDrawing

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Stefan reflects on a conversation he and I had over our Valentine’s Day brunch about our different approaches to decision-making and how embracing anticipatory thinking and a future focus can help improve our #MentalHealth in the long run. 🤔

#BlueSkyArtShow - Monochrome #FebruArty #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting

My wife has given me a Valentine's Day envelope addressed to "pudq'snH," which any true devotee of Star Trek will tell you is a Klingon term of endearment, meaning "The One I Will Kill Last," introduced in the classic Next Generation epis- What? (flips envelope 180 degrees) Ohhhhh riiiight got it

You’ve been murdered, who do you want on the case?

#FebruArty - Pair Portrait of myself and my husband that was part of my 2024 exhibit on romantic love and #disability. Technically still unfinished, but that’s also a fair description of any relationship. 💕 #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting

There’s comfy… and then there’s Lucy. 😂 #BTPosse #DogsOfBluesky

#TerrierTuesday - Princess Lola is so over this ridiculously cold #Calgary weather. 😝🐶 #TongueOutTuesday #DogsOfBluesky #RescueDog

I’ve discovered over the years that how I go about learning something new is key to ensuring that my art practice stays enjoyable. In this week’s post, I describe learning Adobe Fresco, a program for digital painters who desire a more traditional look. athenacreative.substack.com/p/learning-t...

Today with #februARTy it's across to #sensoryart and the prompt is #sweet This 20 by 20cm Acrylic on canvas painting is called 'Bella Takes a Bite of my Ice-cream Even Though She Has One of Her Own' #acrylicpainting #artwork #acrylicpainter #art #artist #artyear #painting #ukart #ukartist

Heronry, 2022, etching by Janis Goodman #WomensArt

Investment builds new home for Calgary’s accessArts Centre www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/arti...

#FebruArty - Rings This painting is based on the photo I took to announce my engagement way back in 2018. My husband picked the perfect ring for me based on this earlier painting inspired by our relationship. #ArtYear #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting

Light Flight Sean William Randall 2023

#ArtYear - I completed this piece over a decade ago and it’s still one of my favourites. It doesn’t look much like the original stock photo reference, but I still love how delicate and vulnerable she looks. #FebruArty #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting

Gail Brodholt, contemporary UK printmaker #WomensArt #Saturday

#BlueSkyArtShow - Reflections #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting #ArtYear

#FebruArty Day 6 - Eyes Are there any eyes more soulful than those of a lab? 🥺 #ArtYear #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting #PetPortrait #DogsOfBluesky

Lucy felt that the fuzzy socks I laid out for the freezing Calgary weather today were much better suited as a pillow. #BTposse #DogsofBluesky

#TerrierTuesday… it’s currently -24C in #Calgary right now—or -11F for the Americans playing at home. Lola is all of us in this ridiculous weather. #DogsOfBluesky #RescueDog

#FebuArty Day 4 - Purple Deep rich eggplant purples have long been my favourite colour and can be found in many of my paintings. I'm especially proud of the textured purple glass that makes up the lamp in this older piece. #ArtYear #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting

While I'm happy to be home from the hospital at last, adapting to my new environment has been a struggle. It isn't simply about adjusting to the physical limitations that come with my ongoing recovery, but also recalibrating my expectations around what I can and can't do. 👇🏼🧵

Autumn Vibe Or as we Californians call it: fire season and there is no such thing as winter #art #elk #fantasy #nature

I know this can sound like trite and insincere advice, but it's almost annoying how much it can help sometimes. Take a walk. Think of one thing you're grateful for, no matter how small. Think of one small thing that is in your control that you can do right now, and do that thing.

Close up of my ‘Muppet Fur’ sweater I knit myself. #sensoryart #blueskyartchallenge #fuzzy #Artyear #febuarty #handknit #crafters #craftersofbluesky

#SensoryArt - Fuzzy #Art #Painting #AcrylicPainting #ArtYear #FebruArty #DogsOfBluesky

#FebuArty Day 2 - Shoes I took today’s prompt as my inspiration for a practice colouring piece using Adobe Fresco and a stock photo. I’m currently figuring out the workflow and style for my picture book project as I await final approvals on the sketches. #ArtYear #Art #DigitalPainting