The VS Journal

Christina’s World – Andrew Wyeth, 1948 ℅ Museum of Modern Art The woman crawling through the tawny grass was the artist’s neighbor in Maine, who, crippled by polio, “was limited physically but by no means spiritually.” Wyeth further explained, “The challenge to me was to do justice to her extraordinary conquest of a life which […]

The inspiration that best serves us will never be on a pedestal. As creative women, comparing ourselves to others has only ever resulted in division and detriment to our universal truth: where women gather, we have the power to elevate the whole of society. Of course we are capable of achieving great things that will […]

Even as Summer days begin their graceful exit, Fall softens the transition with a vibrance of its own. Your garden has flourished since the Spring, and every leaf is worth celebrating because they are each a part of the growth you have fostered.  Of course, even the smallest steps are worth acknowledging – after all, […]

As women who flourish in spaces of creativity, we learn early on how precious those spaces truly are to our well-being: somewhere we feel completely safe and free, shedding any doubt or possibility of failure. After all, when the ultimate goal is growth, the only way to fail is to deny our right to nourishment […]

Your garden yields much more than a bountiful harvest. The rest and repose we take in the Winter is what nourishes the soil and every life it sustains. Building energy in the Spring inspires just the right seed selection and pace of nourishment as the birds and bees wake from their slumber, only ever knowing […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]