Kaia Thomas - A path with ART

The desert often has a reputation for being sparse or barren and when I first moved here nearly 20 years ago, I found that I carried a lot of assumptions about how the desert is and was pleasantly surprised to find the desert was full of magic and beauty and not at all what I assumed it to be. One of the biggest surprises was when spring came and the cactus suddenly bloomed with the most beautiful flowers I have ever witnessed. I call them the desert's secret treasure. This spring, after all the much needed rains from this winter, the cactus have been producing quite the show of blossoms.  I am happy to be able to share a little of this desert treasure with you.  All the photos were taken at our property here in Southeast Arizona... Chain Cholla Blossoms Prickley Pear Blossoms Bird of Paradise ( not a cactus )  Hedge Hog Cactus More Prickley Pear flowers Blessings of beauty and ...

Happy Valentine's day everyone! So today I decided to put some order into my bookshelf and came across an old, stained copy of the poetry/art book that my mother and I made 16 years ago.  It was a fun little project to do together. My mother was into writing poetry at the time and she asked if I would do some illustrations for her poems and construct a little book. As I flipped through and read it, I suddenly became compelled to share it.  She wrote such wonderful poetry...she hasn't written any since. I guess it was one of those magical moments in time that will never happen again and I am so glad we have this book to remember it by. Here is a poem and the painting that went with it.  This was a Sumi-e painting... That Unspeakable and Nameless Beauty by Veronica Baker Whisps of rain are falling now tendrils of delicate wetness that turn to angry flashes  and walls of water tumbling down. The desert waits ready to receive freely taking the gift of the sky as it ...