I paint when I have no words. I put on a CD, light some incense, say a prayer. And I paint. I sip my coffee, sit in my PJs, hold my breath, and paint.

Sometimes I paint with my toddler and she turns all the watercolor pads brown. She ogles my paper. She swipes and smears effortlessly at her own work of art.

Sometimes I paint for hours. I use an entire Grammy babysitting outing, once I'm covetously alone, to get lost in colors and shapes and lines. I come away hungry, because I forget to eat. And I come away panting, because every time I touch brush to paper, I hold my breath.

I paint scenes that show how tender and loving young childhood can be. I want to inspire kindness and gentleness and childhood awe.

I paint whimsy. I want to inspire joy, to make people smile and giggle.

I paint love. I want to bring more love into other's lives and to share my language of love.