This month, we meet artist and Air Force Spouse Angela Hunter. Get ready to be inspired by Angela's love of learning new things. As mil spouses, we are frequently thrust into new experiences and new locations. Why not use that change to try new kinds of art techniques or discover classes or workshops our new towns/cities offer?

2020 has been a huge kick in the pants for me, and as my husband so calmly assessed, “We were about due.” But, before I get into what a slog the last couple months have been, let me share how awesome 2019 was.

Army spouse Lindsay Amato Myers takes the stage in February's MilspoFAN interview. Lindsay shares how staying connected to the theatre has helped her build friendships and community with each PCS.

Hello from Camp Humphreys, South Korea!!Last year, at this time, I was planning my "Coastal" art show, from MacDill AFB, in Tampa, Florida. The show took place last March and was a huge success! The paintings were inspired by the tropical beach environment of the gulf coast. It was a wonderful opportunity to gather one last time, to say goodbye to my friends in Florida, before our PCS to Korea, and to share my love of art.I arrived in Korea this past summer with my husband, two teen daughters and our chocolate lab.

I recall about 20 years ago I was working in retail, and I would make little bracelets or anklets and get approached to sell them. I really didn’t think much of pursing it at the time. It wasn’t until we PCS’d to Okinawa in 2012 as a new Mom with a lot of extra time on my hands. We would spend many hours at the beach,and I was enamored by the colorful shells and pottery shards I would find.

Happy 2020 to all of you MilspoFAN artists! I hope you had a chance to step back and relax a little over the holidays (as I had to make the conscious decision to do). Now that it’s back to the mid-January grind, it’s also that time to reflect on the past year and plans for the year to come. Personally, I found myself thinking a lot about one of the major decisions I made at almost exactly this same time last year: my decision to rent an art studio outside of the home. For anyone thinking of taking a similar leap this year, I hope these musings on the pros, cons, and expectations versus realities might give you a little added perspective in your own decision-making process.

I just got back from a month-long residency at Jentel Arts Foundation in Banner, Wyoming in November. Artist residencies are kind of like art camp for adults. Usually you get paid (a little), they put you up, give you studio space to create and sometimes even feed you.

Painting has been a lifelong passion. I first remember painting around age 5. My brother has some pieces of mine from that age on his wall and my mother has a piece of mine from around high school. Sometimes people ask me “How long did it take to you do this painting” and the short answer might be 3 hours or 5 hours, but the real answer is life long. It took whole life to gather the experiences and perfect the techniques to paint this way.

Navy spouse Kellie Walsh inspires us with positivity in this month's MilspoFAN interview. Kellie shares how innovative, positive thinking helped her find new ways to continue dancing after a cross-country PCS. Many of us struggle to find our niche in a new location, but things usually end up okay (maybe a little changed from before) with some work and some adaptations.

I have continued singing at church but that's about it.  Nothing terribly exciting on the music front. Last year my eldest was diagnosed on the autism spectrum last year making for lots of doctors, evaluations, med appointments etc.  This made for an extremely stressful year on top of going back to work full time.  It was a rough year, to say the least.  But thank goodness for therapies, doctors and medicine we have her on the right track and she is blooming wonderfully. 

This year has been a fun and wild ride! We found out last December that we were expecting! Shortly after, I began suffering from EXTREME morning sickness and by March was formally diagnosed with Hyperemisis. I thankfully was able to continue teaching, thanks to my sweet, patient and understanding students and coworkers. The Army kept my husband away for most of the pregnancy but we were able to have 10 days of uninterrupted leave together right before baby.

Painter and Air Force spouse Atalante Shay discusses art's therapeutic nature as she looks forward to exploring new mediums. Here at MislpoFAN, we're cheering her on as she ventures into children's literature.

I began 2019 by staying in line with my daily poem (or at least editing some poems). I like to keep a steady routine because my mind feels more open and the ideas looser. When I know I’ll be writing, something gets put on the page. Sometimes it’s a keeper; sometimes it goes to the poetry graveyard.

My year has been full of unexpected coincidences...the first of which took place in a Harris Teeter (grocery store) parking lot.  I was walking to my car when I noticed a gold star on the back of a van.  For anyone that doesn’t know the gold star indicates that an immediate family member has been killed in the line of duty.  I thought to myself, I wish the person who owns this car would come out so I could express my sorrow for their loss.

Artist and Air Force spouse Jamie Clack discusses inspiration, balance, community, and change in this month's MilspoFAN interview. Military life, especially all the PCS part of it, often forces us to adapt our arts and venture into new forms.

Since I last shared with MilSpouse Fine Arts Network, we have had so many changes. We moved our family from North Carolina to New Mexico, which has been a big adjustment. We really enjoy New Mexico: good food, good skiing, and day spas are in abundance. Our little ones took quite a bit of time adjusting, however. It has been a few months and now they seem to be getting into the normal swing of things.

It was surreal. I was overwhelmed with the wide-open spaces and the overflowing stores. I returned to Spain even more appreciative of the lifestyle we have here, and the opportunities for intercultural exchange.

I have successfully taught Voice, Acting & The Business of the Arts at Strike It Up Artistic Center for the last year and have helped aspiring singers/actors develop their skills for auditions, competitions, college theatre programs and even how to navigate the business when you're just starting out as a performer.

Navy spouse Andria Williams' novel and stories create communities of freedom and support, and life imitates art in the supportive communities she's built into the Military Spouse Book Review and The Wrath-Bearing Tree. Williams also shares a sneak peek at her latest novel manuscript while being open about some of the sacrifices made when drafting.