Newsletter Contacts

November 2008 - Money, Control & Dessert

by Cristina Acosta
11/20/2008 Money problems and the bad economy are dominating headlines and entering most everyone's conversations (mine included) at some point during the day. It's almost impossible to be around people or connect to media and not hear something said about some aspect of money.   Our country's current financial instability is something that I can't obviously change, and that stresses me out. For stress relief I turn to something linear and...

October 2008 - Pigeons, Paddling and Altars

by Cristina Acosta
10/17/2008 Dear Friends,     A lost racing pigeon bunked in the eave of our house for a couple of weeks. I tracked down the local racing pigeon group and after describing the bands on the bird's legs, the man I spoke with urged me to catch the pigeon so that it could be returned to it's home. The bird had other ideas. It stayed comfortably out of my range, and grew plump on the cracked corn and sunflower seeds I pour into the bird...

Summer 2008: Surf and Creativity

by Cristina Acosta
8/5/2008 Dear Friends, I'm learning to Standup Paddle Surf  and I am obsessed! I started learning to surf last summer and because I live inland, I focus on Stand Up Paddling so that I can be on my board  whether I'm on the coast or in the middle of the country. I get scared a bit in the ocean or on big lakes when the wind is high, but I keep on learning. So why am I writing you about surfing in an art newsletter? Because I'm exci...

May 2008 Creativity Is Connection

by Cristina Acosta
5/4/2008 Dear Friends, Connections between people are more obvious than ever before in history. Virtual-world relationships on sites like Facebook and LinkedIn are blurring the external boundaries  between our work, social and family selves. The boundaries between the different worlds we pass through during the course of our day and the different personas we may inhabit are now permeable. How do we keep centered, balanced an...

April 2008 New Gallery! Choosing Exterior Paint Colors!

by Cristina Acosta
3/31/2008 Dear Friends, Paint Happy is the name of both my art book and the series of paintings I make in that style. When I paint, I hold a thought/emotion in mind as I create. My Paint Happy series encourages happy, joyous thoughts. It's always a pleasure to make and to share with viewers and collectors. I'm happy to announce that High Desert Gallery in Sisters, Oregon is now the exclusive representative of my art in the Centr...

March 2008 Paint Colors, New Exhibit, Chocolate!

by Cristina Acosta
3/5/2008 Dear Friends, The days are getting longer and it's almost time for the Vernal Equinox. More sunshine is on its way! To get through the rest of winter I recommend more chocolate! I visited Oaxaca, Mexico last month and along with enjoying the wonderful arts, crafts and ancient pyramids, I discovered a recipe for you, Chocolate with Water (Chocolate con Agua). Oaxaca is renowned for chocolate, and much of it is consumed as a beverag...

Feb. 2008 My New Blog! BIG Painting!

by Cristina Acosta
1/30/2008 Dear Friends,     Happy Valentines Day! This is the month we honor love. Like most everybody, I've spent a few bummer Valentines Days over the years. Love I learned is a practice. So is art, prayer, parenting, exercise, eating and most anything else that you participate in with your heart and soul. It all becomes a spiritual practice, and each of us brings our unique presence in the practice of our lives to the world....

Jan 2008 Inspire! Brown Sugar Beauty Recipe!

by Cristina Acosta
1/7/2008 Dear Friends,     Happy New Year! The rush and fun of the winter holiday season is behind us and I'm tired of cooking and eating! On that note, my gift to you is a recipe for Brown Sugar Beauty Scrub. Stir fresh mint and orange zest together with simple ingredients and you are in for a calorie-free treat that will leave you refreshed and ready to act on your inspirations.     The New Y...

Dec. 2007 Holiday Chocolate Bread & Acting Sweet!

by Cristina Acosta
12/10/2007 Dear Friends,     Happy Holidays! 'Tis the season for giving and getting. Keeping the balance between the two is the dance of life. If the holiday season tires you out it’s time to take a break. You may not want to or be able to step completely out of the craziness, but it’s good to remember to enjoy yourself.  Because I live near the mountains, this time of year I take time to ski with my family and frie...

Nov. 2007 Sweet Bean & Potato Tart with Hazelnut Crust!

by Cristina Acosta
11/15/2007 Dear Friends,     Happy Thanksgiving! Trying to transform lead into gold (and other goals of alchemy) fascinated scientists for centuries. As fascinating to me is the sense that I am surrounded with riches I don’t always recognize. It’s easy to be so preoccupied with challenges that I neglect to notice how rich my life is. I can get overwhelmed and forget that the tools of transforming my thoughts (and b...

Oct. 2007 Creamsicle Flan! Horses and New Paintings!

by Cristina Acosta
10/4/2007 Dear Friends,     I hope you are enjoying the change of seasons.     This month I finished a few new paintings. Among them are two new additions to my Animal Spirit series in oil, Standing Horse and Horses Running Verdes (Green). Years ago I had horses and rode regularly. Though I have since moved on to the easy-care of a mountain bike, I’ve been feeling the call to explore and reflect u...

Sept. 2007 Santa Fe Chicken Rice & A Mermaid!

by Cristina Acosta
9/20/2007 Dear Friends,     I love the last few weeks of summer. My birthday is this month on the Autumnal Equinox (the 23rd). It's my personal new years day, a time I take to reflect on my projects and plans being sure to include time for fun with my family and friends. The legendary artist, Leonardo da Vinci said, "Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, f...

Summer 2007 Surfing! Key Lime Squares!

by Cristina Acosta
8/18/2007 Dear Friends,     I hope you've been enjoying your summer. I have a new recipe for you, Key Lime Squares. One bite of this sweet/tart dessert and I think of sunny ocean days. As a child, I lived by the ocean in Playa del Rey, California. Recalling sparkling sunny days, foggy mornings or violent winter storms, the ocean is a constant mental presence for me, even after years spent living by the mountains....

June 2007 Easy Ribs! Learn to Paint Happy!

by Cristina Acosta
6/11/2007 Dear Friends,     Summer's warmth motivates me to spend time outdoors. Getting away from routine household tasks I get a different perspective and renew my practice of simplifying my daily life. Having more time for the things that matter is my summer quest.     Cooking simply gives me extra time to try new things. Try my Easy BBQ Ribs recipe. The simple cooking method melts the fat from the...

Easy Party Sangria Recipe! Celebrate!

by Cristina Acosta
5/1/2007 Dear Friends,     It’s party time! And Mother's Day and Cinco de Mayo lead the list. Though Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday (May 5th) commemorating a victory over the French invaders in 1862, it’s also become a popular fiesta day in the U.S. For your next fiesta try my easy Sangria recipe. A fruit filled wine drink; Sangria is the perfect light beverage for a party. The flavors and bea...

Creative Living and Home Made Salad Dressing!

by Cristina Acosta
4/18/2007 April 2007 Dear Friends, The blooms of spring marking this transition of seasons reminds me that I’ve changed along with the life around me. Conscious change is part of the artistic life. I love to create new recipes, like my Citrus Salad Dressing, paint colorful paintings and organize my home. I know that organizing may not sound like a lot of fun, but it can be very freeing. And what frees me today gives me mor...

"Just a Bite" of Cheesecake! Beautiful Colors!

by Cristina Acosta
3/14/2007 Dear Friends,                                                              New colors are budding into view. The clock has sprung forwards and the sunny days seem full of possibility. Welcome to my new new...