The VS Journal

come play with me – Phyllis Sharpe, oil on canvas “In this little painting, two tiny girls are seen playing on the beach. In the warm sunny afternoon, they hold hands as they frolic in front of the breaking waves. One of them wears a turquoise jumpsuit, and the other is in a lovely pink […]

Happy First Day of Summer! This week, we’re keeping it short and sweet so that you can enjoy your Day of Play in the sunshine. We’re shining the spotlight on two incredible women who inspire us to pursue our passions with a vivid imagination, no matter the challenges that may arise. These women embrace courage […]

When was the last time you accepted a side quest? This term is believed to have originated from tabletop role play games back in the 70’s, and is still largely used in the world of gaming. It refers to a task or adventure that is optional for players, and may or may not contribute to […]

All work and no play leads to burnout. When we try to do it all at once, and all the time, we quickly realize a sustainable pace is vital to growth. After all, many seeds in our gardens will take most of the year to grow. So why then do we neglect the undeniable importance […]

We Were Seeds – Janalee Robison, Digital Painting, 2021 My inspiration for this painting began with the quote “They Tried to Bury Us, They Didn’t Know We Were Seeds” by the Greek poet Dinos Christianopoulos. These powerful words started to form imagery in my mind of a vulnerable figure pushed into the dark earth, only […]

Nature is the perfect inspiration for guidance on sustaining life, and we benefit from it every day with the food we eat.  While we always look forward to the Autumn harvest and Winter holiday feasts, for now we are inspired by picnics and brunch and fresh meals. The weather is getting warmer and warmer, and […]

Do we ever truly recover from burnout? When we have extended ourselves beyond our normal boundaries and simply have nothing left to give, what does recovery truly look like? This week, we’re talking about the cycle of recycling: a beautiful and sustainable way to make sure that we get the best out of life, and […]

When you think of a cycle, what comes to mind? We so often find ourselves in cycles of fear and self-destruction that we need to be reminded that not all cycles have negative effects. Realizing that you’re functioning within one is not inherently a negative thing. Yes, it can be scary and difficult when it’s […]

“Good daily habits lead to good days, good weeks, good years.” – Becky Hammon Overthinking is fertilized by inaction. It threatens to choke our seeds, robbing them of potential. The time we spend questioning ourselves and worrying about things that are out of our control is better spent in your garden of creativity. No action […]

| Duft by Hannah Höch | Hannah Höch (1889-1978) was a German photomontage artist and painter. She was the only woman member of the Berlin Dada group and exhibited at the First International Dada Fair in 1920. By the time she painted Duft (Fragrance) in 1937, she was facing grave personal and professional challenges.  The […]