Wandering Widow

Once Known As Red On the Road

Legend has it that once upon a time, long ago, I was married to a really great human, fellow artist, and filmmaker, James Patrick Dames. We were known as The Globe Squatters: Two artists on a little adventure, house-sitting our way around the world.

Patrick and I were like a zipper; we went together seamlessly. In 2016, Patrick was diagnosed with cancer, and within five months, he was “struck down” by the disease. I lost my husband, my best friend, my travel buddy, and, most importantly, my creative collaborator in art and life.

So that was awful. 

I began referring to him dying as “the big bang” because that is what it felt like. I was launched into the darkness, and all the navigational tools I had prior didn’t mean a thing. I was spat out onto an entirely new planet.

Was there a north star I could follow here? Was there even water on this planet? I had so many questions. So I did the only thing my fiercely resilient artist person would allow me to do and started to build a new universe with the debris. 

I stormed the castles, slayed the dragons (real and imagined), and saved the only person I really could, myself. And I lived to tell the tale.

These days, in my new(er) universe, I am Jolene Dames, an artist and alchemist. I believe each of us can utilize the artist within ourselves to create beauty from chaos. I hope that I will inspire others to do the same, no matter what their “big bang” looks like.

I spend most of my time painting, making art for my shop, writing for my blog, and traveling. I aim to inspire, motivate, and encourage others through my art, writing, and life experiences.

Life is short, but only if you are living it.
It can be very long if you don’t.
My recommendation? Live short.