joanie schwarz portraiture

03/08/2023

Big girl pants. Sold.
A few more spots in my embroidery class tomorrow March 6th 4-6
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02/28/2023

We are living in a snow globe. My favorite time to capture love- with the crisp white backdrop and warmth of connection.

02/28/2023

http://moblalbum.com/newfr4usyymu

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02/04/2023

2 years ago I received a gift that brought me to tears.
and you are all truly the best. I love documenting time with you. And , what fun it was working with you.
"When you breathe, everything changes."
Xox


So grateful ❤️

12/04/2022

Sugar Bear hanging out in the sink. The small card taped to the mirror is a gift from given to us when had a weekend at 17 years ago.
It says, "Is it time to take a gratitude break?"
My answer is, "Always."

09/29/2022

“I’ve always had this crazy fear, my whole life, of having every day be the same. And if I dig really deep, that’s my motivation, to get outside, to train, to be in my sport, and to forever continue learning.” -Hilaree Nelson

After reading so much news about our friend Hilaree Nelson
I want to express one really important thing. Above all of Hilaree's incredible accomplishments, for many of us, what stood out about Hilaree is that she was KIND. So generous with her time. Humble.
An amazing mom who often questioned , "Am I doing this right..” the way we ALL stumble around parenting. Trying to do it "right". Hilaree often spoke about working towards raising good men, which we had in common.
When my son Dean .like.marmots was getting into climbing, it petrified me.
Hilaree offered for us to all go out together and climb . Hilaree, Dean, Quinn and Grayden climbed while I took it all in behind my 2 cameras. Watching them climb together made me realize that climbing is a passion, to ask Dean to find another sport would be like asking him to not breathe.

Sending love to everyone you touched Hilaree.
This all just does not seem real.

08/01/2022

Cast, carved and diamond added. Inspired from and antique brass bunny button.

07/13/2022

Long post alert .
Always say yes... and of course get permission...which I did ... Thank you and for asking me to be a part of this Saturdays walk with 10 artist installations along the Idarado trail.

So again, with permission, we cut long willow branches from the maintenance building area to carry to my assigned spot on the Idarado trail.

"What have you been doing with these branches?" you might ask. My goal is to create a nest. A BIG Nest. A structure that says home. Something that says yes, we all belong.
A safe space. By studying Patrick Doughery's work I have been enlightened. Answering questions and creating community as people walk by. How he uses materials local to the area. Making sure I explain all the aspects of what I'm doing to everyone . I've been plugging along despite being sick (not Covid) with lots of helpers.

Until today.

I started harvesting sticks alone at 8 am in the spot where I had been harvesting with friends... friends including 2 year olds and people dear to my heart. So, I was surprised when a lovely female marshal stopped her car and told me I was in the wrong spot. Because ....Apparently I've been taking willow branches from a BEAR DEN.
I mean how ironic is that? I'm messing up a Bear's Den in order to create a nest less than 2 miles away. I felt terrible! And then she told me that the female bear was active that morning and had ripped a door off an outdoor refrigerator.
I mean I don't blame her - I'd be pi**ed too. I'm so lucky I didn't run into her... headlines would say, "Stupid artist mauled by Bear because she was messing with her den."
I mean when someone doesn't take their shoes off in my house I can get all ruffled. And if I were a bear I'd certainly follow my instincts.
So, this post will end by me saying if you are local and want to bring some tall willows from your PRIVATE property please message me and I'll direct you where to drop them. Saturday the 16th will be interactive and we'll finish together. We all belong .

07/04/2022

We March.
Honoring our bodies, our voices and our minds.
The women who fought before us and the children to come. We love our country. We need to be heard.

06/25/2022

"So yes, I am heartbroken — for the teenage girl full of zest and promise, who won't be able to finish school or live the life she wants because her state controls her reproductive decisions; for the mother of a nonviable pregnancy who is now forced to bring that pregnancy to term; for the parents watching their child's future evaporate before their very eyes; for the health care workers who can no longer help them without risking jail time."
-Michelle Obama

06/19/2022

Driving through the with beautiful images by
"LIFE GOES ON . . . considers how we can maintain a sense of balance and hold on to certain routines in a world turned upside down.

It works to hold space for new forms of living (and flourishing) despite the pall of anxiety and death cast by the coronavirus pandemic.

It evinces a need to speak to possibility, to speak truth to power, and to simply stand up for one another."

“Life Goes On . . . ” labors to understand how the present moment is generating new forms of responsibility, new abilities, and new ways to attend to the hardships and joys that befall us all.