Last night, my friends Dan and Howard took me to a wonderful variety performance in Occidental, the kind of strange and wonderful event that could only occur in West Marin County. It was called the Chautauqua Revue, "a variety show inspired by vaudeville, circus, traditional Chautauquas, and storytelling." The host Wysteria McBrylcream presented everything from a skit depicting star-bellied sneetches to a fifth-generation circus performer juggling and spinning ropes and pins. It was a magical evening, filled with the extraordinary human inventions.
The unimaginative might also have said, "Creatives are weird!"
A scene from the 23rd annual Chautauqua Revue at the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center
Because when you let the creative freak flags fly, you never know what will come out. It's the most exciting and frightening part of opening up to the Muse. Going beyond the surface of things is not for the faint of heart. Sharing what you find down there is even scarier—because what will people think?
Oscar Wilde said, "Things are because we see them, and what we see, and how we see it, depends on the Arts that have influenced us."
To Wilde, art was the true expression of human meaning—that we don't know how to appreciate beauty until artists and poets teach us. I don't know if I agree with this notion, but I do like the idea of the artist being a sort of intermediary—a translator who helps us open our eyes and hearts to the magnificence of the world.
One of my many doodles, which I call "meanderings," in sketchbooks over the years.
Does the world need another painting? Or another book, play, song, movie, or any weird creation?
Well, no. This earth doesn't need any more humans, let alone the things we make.
But what would like be like for us without our imaginations? And the stuff we create and share out of curiosity, humor, despair, and love?
"The First Wing," oil on canvas, 2015
Art Heals
I recently stumbled across the work of Karla Wong, a trans Oaxacan-Chinese artist. I recognize the fantastical characters in her paintings as denizens of my own imagination. Every inch holds another layer of magic that only opens up as you go deeper. Enjoy!
“The Catrina Comes to Chicago (La catrina llega Chicago)” (2026), oil on canvas
With love and light,
Maggie
PS Whenever you’re ready to start working with me, here are three ways:
1. Want to learn the basics of drawing and find your unique voice, without pressure or doubt? Sign up for my next 6-week online workshop, "Draw Like You Mean It." Lessons include weekly office hours and one-on-one guidance from me.
2. Already comfortable with drawing? The follow-up 6-week online workshop is "Take a Piece from Start to Finish." You'll get to develop a piece of your own to maturity.
3. Not sure where to begin? Schedule a free 30-minute consultation and I’ll ask you the single most important question to help you become the artist you’ve always wanted to be.
