Margaret’s Musings – Art

Art Keeps Us Alive

Art Keeps Us Alive

In my morning email I received an invite from the Little Traveler shoppe in Geneva, IL to come on out for this weekend’s Christmas Walk. This is one of my favorite holiday events because it takes place in the town where I grew up, you can buy chestnuts roasting on an...

Grandma’s Painting is Finished!

Grandma’s Painting is Finished!

Like Emma Toft before her, my Grandma Lehwald was one of Door County, Wisconsin's early women entrepreneurs. In the 1960’s she told her husband she wanted to open a “hot dog stand” as a small hobby. We all know how "small hobbies" go. Today, almost 60 years later this...

Seeing With Freedom

Seeing With Freedom

As a writer I’m drawn to large projects that are years in the making. Yet, focused work on my current manuscript can feel limited: not all of life is contained in Renaissance Italy (hint, hint the manuscript for my new novel is done:)! For our anniversary, my husband...

How to Raise an Artist

How to Raise an Artist

Dear Mom, I just finished reading a book about the life and art of one of our favorite contemporary painters, Jim Ingwersen. We’ve often visited his gallery on Old Stage Road and sat beneath the grape arbor talking to he and Phyllis about his alla prima portrait...

Your Artistic Corner

Your Artistic Corner

Amidst falling linden leaves, I passed by and heard the sound of a Skilsaw coming from the potting shed. For about a year I’ve been hoping to catch a glimpse of the backyard artist who lives three blocks away. Wrapped in yellow paint, her windowed workshed is a tiny...

A Letter to Students and Writers

A Letter to Students and Writers

Dear Beloved Students, We are looking at the finish line and it isn’t even Spring Break! Yet, in less than three months you will be frolicking in summer splendor and I will be promoting my novel which comes out June 1st. Here are some thoughts to finish the year with...