This summer I accepted the opportunity of a lifetime - a week-long stay in the tranquil woods of North East, Georgia.

The residency program was founded by artist and visionary Angela Chrusciaki Blehm. After experiencing an inspiring two week creative retreat in a beautiful setting early in motherhood, she knew a residency was an experience she personally wanted to offer to others in the future. Fast forward to today, the property where Angela created the residency is beyond stunning. Located in Dahlonega, GA, the space is intentionally curated with original vintage and contemporary artwork. Surrounded by the Etowah River and 5 acres of woods, the setting’s ambiance is breathtaking.

My proposal for the residency was to begin a table inspired collection for my next exhibition opening on November 7th at Art & Light Gallery.

When the time to depart finally came, I packed up every art supply I could possibly imagine needing. I had everything from paint, watercolor paper, and canvas, to works in progress, and my favorite reference books. Pulling all these items together was very satisfying for me. I had a clear vision of all the tools necessary for my creative process during my stay.

Knowing I would be in such a unique and picturesque space, I looped in my bestie, Kate Blohm Photography to collaborate documenting the experience. In our time together, we were able to capture what a day in the life is like at The River House Arts Residency. From yoga on the screened in porch, coffee alongside the river, to having dinner sourced from the garden, all of the spaces were a total dream.

The highlight was of course the studio space. With four large work tables on casters, I had ample room to spread out multiple projects at once. I have never had so much space to work on my artwork. It proved to be a highly productive set up. While working, I was able to see how different pieces played together, dancing around the room (literally) with one paint color for multiple pieces. It was a welcome break from having to constantly reset my space for different projects in my home studio.

In terms of the work I created, I am most pleased with my experimentation in process. I played a lot with collage, cutting out my illustrations on paper, then adhering them to canvas and wood panel. My favorite pieces for my show so far are 3D plates where the food feels lifelike in size and dimension.

Now that I’m home, I’d like to share the 3 reasons why this experience was so impactful for me.

1. It’s rare that to have large chunks of time void of distractions, notifications, and obligations. My creative soul deeply appreciated this time for creative freedom.

2. It was extremely nourishing to ground in nature. Some of my favorite moments were waking up to the sounds of the rushing river, doing sun salutations on the porch as the sun rose beside me, and painting with the studio’s doors wide open to nature’s songs.

3. Being immersed in such a tastefully designed space bursting with art and design was extremely inspiring. I found myself drawn to colors and shapes that I might normally I look straight past.

I am beyond grateful to have had this experience and am so excited to see how my work evolves going forward. Thank you for being along for the ride!

xx

RNR