22 Comments

Just discovered your work. Wow! Such a treat.

Expand full comment

Thank you so much for your kind words, Brenda — it’s lovely to connect with you here! 🤍

Expand full comment

Now I've visited Valparaiso ... with an imaginative guide who focused on beauty. Loved this, Candace. Lovely, just lovely. And so much fun to imagine the whole town decked out in neighborhood art.

Expand full comment

I love this comment, Sue! I’m so glad you enjoyed the journey to Valparaíso this week 😍🌈

Expand full comment

Let's add the nice comments I'm getting after sharing it on FB. These mosaics and murals are so cool, and murals are popping up in our neck of the woods too.

Expand full comment

Mosaic tile steps are so wonderful. Love how you captured them in the essay.

Expand full comment

Yes! I love them too, and could have easily spent my whole time in Valparaíso sketching them 😍

Thanks so much for reading, Amy!

Expand full comment

I remember this one well. Such a beautiful place. Is this where the street cleaner gave you a paintbrush? I hope you're all well 💗

Expand full comment

Ahh I love that you remember that story, Angela. That moment just happened one morning in Montevideo, but you’re so right in that it would’ve been very fitting for it to have taken place in Valparaíso as well 😊

Expand full comment

And I hope you’re all doing well, too! Sending a big hug from Belgium today 🤍

Expand full comment

Another lovely bouquet of words and images you've given me this morning!

Expand full comment

Thank you so much for your kind words, Louisa! I love how you put that 💐🙏

Expand full comment

What a wonderful way to remember your journeys!

Do you journal draw your daily life as well?

Expand full comment

Thank you, Janine! Sketching is absolutely my favorite way to remember my journeys — and it’s even helped me create moments I then want to remember (often through the people I meet while sketching).

I don’t have a daily sketching practice at the moment (I’m currently a full-time mom of two little girls, so time is a little short right now 😊) but I try to get out my paints as often as I can, and I love following people who do sketch every day.

Thanks so much again for your kind words, and for saying hello! 🤍

Expand full comment

My son is older so I definitely have more time to commit to a journal practice but I think any time you feel moved to sketch and are able to do it is wonderful. I'm beginning to sketch more in my journal--my dreams that I have at night and more doodling. Working toward more concrete sketches. Look forward to seeing more of your sketches!

Expand full comment

Just beautiful! And reminds me so much of my time in Mexico too ❤🧡💛💚💙💜

Expand full comment

So pretty and colorful!! XO

Expand full comment

Rilke said to “love the questions themselves” until someday we “work our way into the answers.” I love the way you have sketched the questions, or, as you say, “puzzle pieces” for musing over all of your life. Thank you for sharing these pieces, in both picture and word form, with us. Funny how the pieces can come together, even for those we haven’t met yet, when we share ourselves.

Expand full comment

Just beautiful, Candace. Part of my heart is in Chile because of the literature (and perhaps part of my liver because of the wine). But I've never been there. So this was a special journey for me. Thank you!

Expand full comment

A+ 100%🌟🌟

(The highest possible grade in my kindergarten.)

Expand full comment

This was such a beautiful piece! Loved the art and those last few sentences!

Expand full comment

I love seeing examples of how communities insist on art in everyday life. Thanks for this, Candace!

Expand full comment