Myrna Leigh Cohn

“For writing is a solitary occupation and one of it’s hazards is loneliness.  But an advantage of loneliness is privacy, autonomy and freedom.” – Joyce Carole Oates, from A Widow’s Story For all intents and purposes, I am now and have been for two weeks, on “vacation.” Since I’m sure there are many definitions of this [...]

My paintings are contemporary reflections of an evolving journey through what was once a typical life – an equal mix of beauty, joy and love, challenged by frustration, fear and loss. I came late to my passion. I am, for the most part, self-taught, but the few people with whom I have studied have given [...]

For the past few weeks, I have been thinking about depression – mine, to be exact. I sense a heaviness in my chest and in my legs. The thought of reaching out is instantly rejected. An overwhelming sense of sadness seems to permeate my mind and my heart. So much has been happening in the [...]

“I craved honesty, yet found dishonesty in myself. Why commit to art? For self-realization, or for itself? It seemed indulgent to add to the glut unless one offered illumination.” …from “Just Kids” by Patti Smith

More than a dozen paintings and prints are now on display in a one-person exhibit at the Northern Door Y Program Center in Fish Creek, Wisconsin. Here’s the official Press Release… written by my publicist. Please, feel free to use it and help get the word out: Baileys Harbor painter, writer and former corporate management consultant, Myrna Leigh Cohn discovered [...]

I am writing on the first day of the Chinese New Year, the year of the rabbit. The new moon is in the sign of Aquarius, the most potent New Moon of the year for wishes involving new beginnings in friendships and in taking steps to make your larger life’s goals and dreams come true. [...]

It’s been a bit too long since my last post.  How do I know? I know because now I have so many stories to tell, I don’t know which to choose.  In fact, my mind is swirling around in so many directions, I’m feeling dizzy. In addition, from a practical standpoint, if I don’t write [...]

I am a visual artist, an oil painter, to be exact. I live in a town called Baileys Harbor in Door County in the state of Wisconsin. The population of this county is around 29,000 people. Baileys Harbor has approximately 1,000  full-time residents.  I emphasize “full-time” because Door County is a popular vacation and tourist [...]

The scourge of the writer…  it’s time to begin the story, but where? When? Who? How? For the visual artist, it’s “the blank white canvas,” stark, flat and looking very much like the white snow-filled scene outside my studio window on this January day. I may or may not know what my next subject will be, [...]

“Was it random or was it destiny? And how would I know the difference? More and more it seemed like ‘it was meant to be’ was just another way of saying, ‘it’s what happened.’”