Serena Kovalosky
I am an artist and a vagabond with a passion for food, art, travel, and exploring different cultures.
I have big dreams and I know how to achieve them. Some, however, take longer than others.
Creativity is the thread that runs through everything I do. The challenge is to not get all tangled.
I spent the first 18 years of my career in the travel industry. I developed my travel philosophy from Rick Steves’ Europe through the Back Door. I still travel close to the ground.
I have some really cool recipes from around the world – and stories to go with them.
I was married once, a lifetime ago, and am proud that my ex and I parted as friends.
I always knew I never wanted to have children. My creations are my offspring. And I get to sell them.
I love anything French and although I learned “France French”, I speak a much better “Quebec French”. Roots run deep.
Montreal is my favorite city in the whole world. I lived there for 15 years.
I love being single.
At age 40, I quit my job in the corporate travel world to become a full-time professional artist. A GOURD artist! Before you laugh or scratch your head, my contemporary gourd artwork has been in fine art museums, in major magazines and is collected all over the world.
Art is for everyone.
I’m the co-founder of a cultural nonprofit that brings cultural tourism – and art dollars – into rural upstate New York, where I now live and create.
I appreciate Native American spirituality and once spent a 36-hour sleepless vigil with an Abenaki firekeeper, learing the ancient tradition of tending a sacred fire.
My greatest life lesson is this: Be who you are. It doesn’t matter what anyone else says or thinks. Stick with what resonates for you, surround yourself well and believe in the power of perseverance because that’s how dreams are achieved.
The past 53 years have been a fun ride so far, and there’s more to come. I am looking forward to meeting all of you and sharing stories!
– SerenaK
Serena Kovalosky maintains her own blog, Artful Vagabond.
Serena’s gourd artwork can be viewed on her website.
Serena’s posts on All The Single Girlfriends:
Gluten-Free Dog Treats
Last week, I shared a yummy recipe for homemade Bacon Doggie Biscuits. Since “gluten-free” is becoming popular as people adopt healthier eating habits, I wanted to also share a low-fat, gluten-free alternative for people who want their dogs to eat healthy, too! I must warn you, however, that dogs are no different than the rest […]
Tail-Waggin’ Doggie Bones
I’m starting a new revolution. From now on, instead of buying “stuff” for friends and family at Christmas, I’m giving gifts to their animals instead. Actually, I rarely buy “stuff” for Christmas gifts. I’m not a shopper by nature, and since I’m a professional artist, I usually offer my sculptural artwork as unique, one-of-a-kind gifts. […]
Notes from a Deliberate Non-Mom
I’ve never been a mom. Even though I had the kind of mother every kid hopes for – one who was always there when I came home from school, who baked the best cookies in the neighborhood, who patiently listened to my teenage tales of angst and romance, and who taught me things I’d never […]
Change Your Life – Clean Your Sock Drawer
If you want to make changes to your life, begin by cleaning your sock drawer. I discovered the power in this simple act from a story I read about a psychologist who received an emergency call from one of her patients late one night. He was clearly panicked – ranting and raving and threatening to […]
Spring Cleaning: Busting Tradition
I hate to clean. And it’s that time of year again when millions of women participate in the annual rite of Spring Cleaning. Handed down from mothers to daughters, this tradition is steeped in the symbolism of beginning anew after a long winter, where the entire house gets cleaned, sorted and rearranged from top to […]
Super Hot Boots And Other Shoe Stories
Every one of my shoes has a story. Each pair I own brings out a different side of my character – the sexy stilettos for going out on the town, the funky-but-classy heels I wear to my art openings, the comfortable moosehide moccasins I purchased at a Native American pow wow, and a pair of […]
International Women’s Day: Honoring The Less Famous
In honor of International Women’s Day, I was tempted to write about famous women who have inspired me, like Oprah or SARK. Or perhaps I’d share moments from my own achievements as a professional visual artist. But there’s a woman whom I hadn’t thought about in years who suddenly kept coming to mind as I […]
Passion vs The Economy
Fifteen years ago when I left an 18-year career in corporate travel management to become a professional visual artist, I had made a life-changing choice of Passion over Money. Little did I realize that the decision to follow my passion would soon become a cyclical battle of doing what I loved, then picking up a […]
Ladies Welcome
As a frequent single traveler, I must admit that finding an appropriate form of evening entertainment while on the road in an unfamiliar city can be a challenge. Let’s face it – a Single Girlfriend in a bar or a restaurant always looks somewhat suspect, although that never stops me. My primary motive is to […]
Skinny Little Dress
Shopping for clothes is not what it used to be. It seemed so much easier when I was in my 20’s and 30’s and had a body that could wear just about anything and look fabulous. I never had a weight issue until my late 40’s when changing hormones began wreaking havoc with my formerly […]