Just look at our artist of the month this month – she exudes joy, both in writing and in her art. Born in 1963 in Faro, Portugal, Manuela Martins-Karman (Manny) is honing her skills as a visual artist in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Manny graduated from Red River Community College, where she majored in Graphic Design and minored in life drawing. There, she developed her acute attention to form and spatial analysis.

You know how talent often runs in families? This month's artist feature, with painter Lawrence Dyer, is part of that tradition. I first met his daughter, Madeline Dyer, when I discovered her beautiful and powerfully written first book, Untamed (read our author interview here). Imagine my NOT surprise when I saw her father's artwork in one of her facebook posts.

Chicago artist Adam Siegel is nationally recognized for the breadth of his work as an abstract painter and photographer. Known for his large-scale works, Siegel presents a soulful refinement to the contemporary category. Influenced deeply by his time in Japan, the artist merges two distinct sensibilities—East and West—with compositions that showcase an elusive and elegant balance of both.

I spent time just letting Jillian’s paintings speak to me before I ever read any of her words.

I see the warmth of human beings, animals, and plants, evolving in a rough nature, made of thick layers of elements. I wonder about the mist which is lying over what I can perceive in the background of her paintings, and about the snow. These paintings speak for themselves.

Nestled just off Stratford’s main square is an artist’s cottage. It is a muted yellow with deep chocolate accents; a white portico with columns entices you in off the street. Enter through the small English cottage garden, past a sign that shows that, indeed, this is an artist’s cottage.

Happy Holidays! Wandering Educators has a special gift for you. This month’s Artist of the Month is the Amazing Newfoundland Sculptor Jim Maunder. His work is absolutely thought-provoking and will make you want to know more about this artist.

I was introduced to Leslie Watts, the amazing figurative painter, by the owner of Wandering Educators and am I glad I was! When I went to her website, I was filled with delight. Her work is humorous, whimsical, and highly detailed. It is wonderful - and I think you will say the same thing.