I am so profoundly grateful for this life I am privileged to live as an artist. Cats and dogs nap in their favorite spots, near me in the studio. And my whole being is flush with gratitude.

Grandma was a painter. My family still owns one of her paintings that she painted on the canvas of her covered wagon.

Quite a few of you have been sending questions to me, which I absolutely love (keep ’em coming, please). Recently, one started nibbling away at me and I’ve been going back and forth with it ever since. The question: Is being an artist worth it?

This question was put to me the other day: What do artists do? And, of course, this could be answered in many different ways. In fact there are likely as many answers as there are artists. We are all individuals, after all.

These are eleven lessons I’ve learned about being a blogger. The High Road Artist blog began about a year and a half ago and I’ve learned a few things along the way.

I’d always heard there were ocean people and mountain people. I was definitely the former, no question. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to live any distance away from the water. It seemed to define me. And I had no interest in mountains. I wasn’t a skier and I wasn’t particularly fond of snow. That was all I knew of mountains and I was simply not interested.

Today we celebrate our 400th post. I say “our” because all of you are part of this with me. I wouldn’t be writing if not for you. It’s true. And I can’t tell you how deeply meaningful it is to have you to talk with.