Three Gifts and the Sea - SOLD

The peacefulness found in sitting by the water with my two best friends.

She Kissed the Face of God - SOLD

 I love the song, "Mary Did You Know?"  I have been listening to Carrie Underwood's new Christmas album and that song in particular stands out. One verse says, "when you kiss your little baby, you've kissed the face of God."  It is a different kind of Christmas this year but the first Christmas story is still the same.....".the sleeping child you are holding is the Great I Am."

Marabel - SOLD

 

The Sandhill Cranes - SOLD

 I have fallen in love with sandhill cranes.  When reading about them, I discovered that they raise one brood per year and both members of a breeding pair build the nest using plant material from the surrounding area.  The female lays one to three eggs and then both parents incubate the eggs for about 30 days.  

Special Santa - Sold

 

It's Mine - NFS

Cats make me smile.  I am allergic to them so I don't pick them up even when I want to but I do think I speak their language.  They say so much with their eyes.  

I would like to credit a wonderful photographer for the picture of her cat, Sandrine Puisais Pastelliste.

He Leads Me By The Still Waters - SOLD

 

Now I Am Found - SOLD

 

Geronimo - SOLD

 These fun times are what life is really all about.

Everything is Just Ducky - SOLD

The relationship between a child and an animal is special.  They receive unconditional love, affection and loyalty.  This little guy has gone the extra mile with his ducks.  He has taken on the responsibility of caring for them.  He has a duck condo where they can go to get out of the weather or feel secure.  He feeds them, cares for them and gives them attention to make them feel special not expecting a lot in return.  We can learn a lot from a child's heart.

Beach Boy - SOLD

 Some of my favorite memories are right here.

Magic- Sold

10" x 20" acrylic on deep sided canvas

For all of you artists out there I have found Magic! There is a little lady in my church who crochets these amazing little pieces out of a coarse, plastic type of material. They are originally used as scrubbers for your dishes during washing but they are wonderful for getting paint off your hands, brushes, floors, tools, etc. I teach my little grandchildren art every week and it can really get messy around here. I tell them to go get the magic and the paint comes right off. If any of you are interested I have a picture below and they are $7 for two. You can email me and I will get them to you.   paintingbythelake@gmail.com 

A Daydream -Sold

10" x 8" acrylic on linen stretched canvas

Sometimes I dream in color.

Me and You and Our Life We Love - SOLD

 

Alive! - SOLD

16" x 20"

Heartsong - SOLD

 I listen to a lot of podcasts when I am walking.  One particular podcast by The Oprah Winfrey Show dated October 19, 2001 was entitled, "How Does That Feel?"  The show focused on an interview with Oprah talking to Mattie Stephanek, an 11 year old boy who had muscular dystrophy. 

His goal in life was to be a peacemaker .  He wrote several books of poetry that he described as "Heartsongs".  The wisdom this little guy possessed touched my heart.  I just cried listening to him describe his life and his philosophy.  You can google his quotes and I think you will agree that he was full of wisdom much greater than his age.  I have included a couple of his quotes here:

"A heart song doesn't have to be a song in your heart.  It doesn't have to be talking about love and peace.  It can just be your message.  It can be your feeling.  Some people might even call it a conscience, even though that's not really what it is.  It's your message, what you feel like you need to do."

"I would not have lasted a minute, literally a minute, on this Earth with God and angels by my side, because I was born.  And right as I was born, I went into a respiratory arrest.  So, big things that keep me going are friends and family, God.  And another think is looking forward to what's going to happen tomorrow."

"I want to be remembered as a poet, a peacemaker, and a philosopher who played."

This painting is my heartsong.

Lovely Life - SOLD

 

"Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking."   Marcus Aurelius

Welcome Home - SOLD

I am never completely sure why a particular photo, old house, a particular bird at my bird feeder or a child playing draws me in and almost “calls” me to paint it.  I felt that way when I saw this reference photo by Denise McQuillan of a giraffe and her baby.  The love was palpable and real, so I pulled it up on my computer screen and happen to have the perfect canvas to use to paint it.  I have entered a contract with a business who has provided me with a list of potential pieces to use on their products so I really needed to focus on that assignment but the giraffe won out and I started sqeezing out paint on my palette.

Before I could get to work, our friend Nancy called to tell us her mother, our dear friend, had suffered a massive stroke and she asked that we come over.  I have written about Biddy Blessing Stewart before.   She was my husband’s third grade teacher but more than that, Biddy has been a friend, an encourager and a spiritual icon for us, especially in the last 15 years.  I have never known anyone exactly like her.  I would go to visit Biddy with the intention of trying to bring some joy to her but I would find that within minutes she was asking about me, my children, my grandchildren and what was going on in my life.    I felt that I was special.  I was the subject of the moment, her full attention was on me.  I felt loved unconditionally.  Wow, that is what everyone wants.  To be seen and loved.  To matter to someone so completely that you walk away feeling better about yourself.  Feeling empowered.

 The doctors had suggested that it would be best to take Ms. Biddy back home.  They stated that the stroke was an end of life event and they felt she would be more comfortable at Nancy’s home with her family in attendance.  

We walked into the bedroom where Ms. Biddy was lying in the beautiful antique bed, the same bed she was born in 100 years ago.  Even though she was unresponsive she was beautiful.  Her son Jeb and his wife, Eleanor and  her son in law, Keith  and Nancy,  her daughter,  were all sitting around the bed with us.  Jeb described his mother perfectly as intelligent, always making someone feel special, totally real and very humorous.  He told us how each grandchild had phoned and Nancy would put  the phone to Ms. Biddy’s ear so they could tell her goodbye.  Eleanor, his wife was wearing a pin that had been given to Biddy by her son Jeb many years ago.  Keith who has always pampered Biddy also told stories of how she was always appreciative of their hospitality.   And then there is Nancy, her daughter who has always had a deep relationship with her mother that I marveled at.  While traveling together I never remember a day when I did not hear Nancy call her mother and tell  her how much she loved her.  On this day, everyone wanted to honor Biddy in some small way as she had honored us.  

Her gift of looking straight into your eyes and making you feel special and unique and loved was not lost on anyone.  We laughed as they related the incident that occurred on one of her last visits by ambulance to the hospital.  She had fallen and they thought she had a broken arm.  When the ambulance attendant was trying to help her on the stretcher, Ms.  Biddy looked up at him and said, “my name is Biddy, what is yours?”  

Now, I am not sure what the message here is, but as I glanced around the room I saw it was filled with giraffes!  There were wooden giraffes, ceramic giraffes, stuffed giraffes, old and new giraffes.  I told Nancy I had no idea that she loved giraffes and she said, “Yes, in fact right before her stroke she asked where were her giraffes.”  It felt a little strange to know that I had giraffes on my easel at home, maybe a little wink from Biddy.

We visited and prayed and my husband Audie read scriptures from her Bible that she had indicated to be her favorites.  They had spoken years ago about the fact that my husband would be performing her funeral service so we found it humorous that Ms. Biddy had written a note along with her scriptures that she would like for him to use the King James Bible at her funeral, not the RSV which he was holding in his hand.

It is hard to adequately describe this woman but maybe this will give you another example of how she affected us.  Two weeks ago, my husband and I visited Biddy and he had provided the Lord’s Supper for her. She was so happy as she said she had not been able to participate in this sacrament for a long time.  After Audie offered the bread and wine, Ms. Biddy sat very still with her eyes closed and a smile on her face.  She remained in a meditative state for a period of time.  We felt we were in the presence of a holy moment.   It was obvious that she was communing with God, she was talking to someone she knew intimately.  I have never seen anyone take communion like that.  It made me want what she had.  The peace, the relationship and the understanding.

That night,  Ms. Biddy Blessing Stewart took her last breath on this earth as she transitioned into the next life.  As hard as it is for all those she left behind who knew her, I can imagine that she was met by the One she knew so well, the One who taught her how to share her gift of making others feel so beloved.   I am sure He took her in His arms, looked into her eyes and at that moment she knew she was the beloved. She had His complete attention and unconditional love.  She was caught up in His presence and heard Him say,  “Welcome Home”.

His Grace is All I Need -SOLD

The Garden Shed

8" x 10" oil on linen panel

$150

During our quarantine time at home I have only visited one place regularly and that is the Garden shop near my home.  It is a cute little green building with flowers all around it.  I love to buy flowers and I love to see them grow and bloom.  I am the worst gardener ever and have to remind myself to water but visiting this little landscape place makes me happy.  One day I saw the owner walking in with his hat and red shirt and I could not resist a picture with the idea in my mind, "I wonder what that would look like painted".  Now I know.  

Our Little Nest- SOLD

I'm Still Standin - SOLD

8" x 10" oil on linen panel

I have recently heard Elton John sing his song, "I'm Still Standin'" and I cannot get it out of my head.  I thought of that song when I came upon the reference photo for Maplesville United Methodist Church.  This is a typical little country church and it reminds me of the little church I attend.  I have had a lot of Sundays away from our church while attending via Facebook and I realized how much I missed the warm hugs and friendly smiles that I have been greeted with every Sunday for 3 years.  Our little church is like a family.  Most of the people who attend have known each other all of their lives and for some of them that has been a long time! For instance, Ms. Edna is in her 90's and she watched most of the members grow up in Arnolds Chapel United Methodist church.  She still makes time to come every other Monday and play dominoes, not any dominoes but Mexican train dominoes and that takes skill.  Life looks different on Sundays now but last week we met in our cars while the preacher and the song leader led from the carport and the back of a pick up truck.  Instead of saying, "Amen" people would honk their car horns if they liked particular parts of the sermon or song.   Max, my constant companion got to attend and he liked it too.  Even though we are not meeting in our little building, the church is still standin.  Members reach out to each other by phone and facebook, one member makes masks for those who need them, my daughter and her family work with a group that feeds the homeless twice a week and my neighbors have reached out to each other with assistance for grocery and food delivery.  That is the church and it is still standin.

Sister Sister - SOLD

Summer in Alabama - SOLD

6" x 6"

Acrylic on linen panel

This is my first magnolia bloom of the summer sitting in my window in my favorite little vase.  I now know summer is here.

This is Us -SOLD

I love experimenting and I have been working with acrylics and missed media on a couple of whimsical paintings.  I love the freedom.  I use paper, patterns, acrylic paint, house paint and charcoal.  After the piece dries very well I polish it with polish about 4 times.   I polish, let dry, buff and repeat.  This is a timely process  but I love the finished product and the "finish".  
This piece is 12" x 24" on a deep canvas.  The side are 1 1/2" and painted.  It is so colorful and it makes me smile.  Hope you like as well and it makes you smile.

Sweet Life - SOLD

8" x 10" acrylic on linen panel

During this challenging time it is hard to stay positive at times.  The news is full of negative statistics and there seems to be an overwhelming insecurity around our future.  I came across one blog entitled,  10 Simple Things You Can Be Grateful for Even When Times are Tough. (grateful-when-times-are-tough)  by Henrik Edberg.  I will list the 10  here but the entire blog is worth the read.  I am grateful for this sweet life.

1.    A roof over my head and a warm home.

2.    Plenty of drinkable water.

3.    I don't have to go hungry.

4.    I can enjoy the small and free pleasures of life.

5.    Access to the internet.

6.    My friends and family.

7.    My health

8.    The kindness of people I have never met before.

9.    The setbacks that have formed me and made me stronger.

10.  I am alive

Blue Skies, Nothing But Blue Skies - SOLD

The reference photo for this painting came from Michelle Pippin.  She is a wonderful photographer and allows artists to use her photos.  I am thankful.

Mother's Day - SOLD

When researching the relationship of sheep mothers and their children, I found that the sheep mothers have a specific language they only use with their children.  It is a deep guttural call that tells them to come back quickly or beware of intruders.  Apparently, the lamb can recognize the voice of his or her mother even if they are in a sea of lambs.  Curious lambs cause moms to go into a panic and they are often seen running through the pastures literally screaming for their babies until they find them.  

I can identify.

I'm Looking Up - SOLD

6" x 6" acrylic on panel

I Found You

8" x 10" acrylic on gessoed paper

The reference for this painting came from a photo on Sktchy.  I loved the love.

I'm Holding On - Gifted

Wow - SOLD

Looking out at the ocean for the first time can is pretty exciting.

Counting Every Blessing - SOLD

8" x 10" oil on linen panel

There is a song by Rend Collective entitled, "Counting Every Blessing".   One of the verses in that song is:

I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing

Letting go and trusting when I cannot see

I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing

Surely every season you are good to me

You were there in the valley of shadows

You were there in the depth of my sorrows

You're my strength, my hope for tomorrow

I've been blessed beyond all measure

In these times of shadows, I needed this reminder.  I am missing our little church and the smiles and hugs that have always been there.  A blessing.

Love Overcomes Fear - GIFTED

12" x 12"

It has been almost 20 years ago that two friends and I celebrated a Birthday party together with a wonderful lunch in Cullman, Alabama.  The Birthday girl, Jenni,  suggested we end our day at Saint Bernard's Abbey which is the monastery in Cullman.  Pam and I did not exactly have that in our plans but since it was Jenni's Birthday we decided to go along.  When I look back now I realize that our attire was not what was acceptable as we had also met after exercise class and each one of us had on exercise attire, capri pants and t shirts. What were we thinking???   We arrived at the monastery in time for the mid day service and we walked into the massive sanctuary and found our place.  There were few visitors there along with us, maybe 30.  When it came time for communion a monk seated behind us tapped me on the shoulder and asked, "are you ladies Catholic?"  I said, "no".  He then proceeded to say, "well when the priest offers the communion you might want to just stay in your seat."  I, being Methodist, where 'all are welcome at the communion table' was not aware of "closed communion".  My friend Pam said to me, "that upsets me! They do not want us to take communion with them."  I told her not to worry that I was sure it was my fault.  She said, "how is that???"  I, being a nurse, was not excited about the fact that the communion was being offered from a common cup.  I told her, " Pam,  I am sure these guys are all very healthy but I do not want to drink after them and everyone is drinking out of the common cup of wine."  I had just gotten that statement out of my mouth when I heard someone fall across the room and hit the marble floor very hard.  Without thinking I started running across the room and found a woman lying on the floor.  She was an older woman and it appeared she probably had broken her hip.  I asked Jenni to get pulses in her foot, and I started directing the monks like I would have other nurses in the hospital.  I said, "I need someone to call 911, I need a blood pressure cuff, a cool washcloth and a fan if possible. "(If was extremely hot in that room).  I then said, "and one of you could pray." I can be very bossy.  A monk immediately started praying and the others were running around completing my other directives.  Pam who is a counselor went over to the lady's family and provided calming reassurance with her professional manner.  The ambulance arrived and we were able to give the lady's history to the health care workers, her current vital signs and details of what had occurred.  She indeed did have a broken hip.  As Pam, Jenni and I walked out that day several of the monks walked us to the door and one said, "this is amazing, two of you are nurses and one is a counselor and you all live in 3 different cities.  Today, of all days you chose to come to our service.  I do not know what we would have done without you."  I have never been back to the monastery to this day.

We learn in Alcoholics Anonymous and Al Anon that we are powerless.  Especially in these last days and weeks we have been made acutely aware of that.  In the story above and in the words of my wise Spiritual Director, "the gifts that God gives us are for the healing of others".  I feel that my friends and I used our gifts that day and I hope that my art is that.  I hope that gift brings healing to others.  As a global community we are experiencing ways we can use our gifts.  I have loved seeing the ways in which others are reaching out; buying groceries for others,  stores providing specific times for the elderly to shop, social distancing, popup concerts on Instagram, calling those who are alone and scared, home school moms giving advice to those moms who have their children home and unsure where to start with home schooling and the list goes on.  

I cannot add anything to what has already been said about our current crises but my husband reminded our church today via facebook:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth shall change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea....

The Lord of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our refuge.

-Psalm 46

My Heart Is Full of Hope - SOLD

20" x 20" on deep canvas

Social Distancing

 8" x 10" acrylic on Belgium linen panel

$125 + shipping

We all now know the importance of "social distancing" and doing our part to stay healthy and be safe.  I have a friend who posted a wonderful list of possible things to do while taking part in social distancing:  (thank you Sarah Trovillion Gray)

1.  Make soup, make bread.

2.  Get those taxes done.

3.  It's fine to go outside.  work in the yard, weather permitting.  Plant a garden.

4.  Work a jigsaw puzzle, play board games.

5.  Figure out how you can get along with less money.  Lots of people will have less money.

6.  Do that spring cleaning.  Wash the curtains and baseboards.  Clean out the closets.

7.  Read!

8.  Listen to music.  Make music.

9.  Think.  Reflect.  Journal.

10.  Breathe.  Relax.  Watch the birds.

11.  Connect.  Call friends and family.  Write letters, thank you notes.  Tell others what they have meant to you.

Be well everyone!

Night, Night - SOLD

8" x 10" acrylic on belgium linen panel

I am always thankful for photographers who share their photos for reference and this one came from Engin Akyurt from Pixabay.  I am always looking for new techniques to use in paint application.  I usually save my belgium linen for oil paintings but lately I have found that I can achieve the same look with acrylic paint and I am loving the color contrasts I can get.  I used a make up sponge to apply the background and I love it.  

I'm Free - SOLD

We're Goin' to the Chapel and We're Going to Married - SOLD

10" x 8" oil on stretched linen canvas

I am forever thankful to wonderful photographers who have the ability to catch "moments" that speak.  I loved this photo by Pam Taylor Henson.  Pam is a photographer who posts in Alabama the Beautiful on facebook and she granted me permission to paint this little scene.  I loved it!  

My Little Buddy and the Beach - SOLD

Jay and Mr. Red - SOLD

SOLD

  A couple of new paintings in my etsy shop found at Paintingbythelake

Tom, Cotton, Billy and Peter

Jenni - SOLD

18" x 24" Deep sided canvas

I hope you can see that this angel is holding a yellow butterfly.

I met Jenni 35 years ago.  She had just moved to town and her husband practiced medicine at the same hospital where I worked as a nurse.  Several people told me she and I needed to meet because we were so much alike.  I am not sure how it came about but we did meet and we soon found out we did have a lot in common.    We had small children about the same age, we were both nurses and we loved some of the same books and authors and yoga.  Jenni was raised in the Quaker faith.  She understood meditation and the importance of quietly seeking out your own relationship with God.  She found a very structured Bible Study in a nearby city and asked me to join her in attending.  We traveled every week with our two and three year olds in tow and our friendship deepened during our weekly trips from Athens to Huntsville.  Over the years we spent many wonderful times together, one in particular was our trip to Hawaii together.  We visited several beaches, ate a lot of wonderful food and visited with some of her long time friends who were just excellent hosts.  She was like a kid, everything was was exciting to her.  Every day was an experience.  I have never met anyone quite like her.  She was calming to be around, laid back and mystical.  Jenni could write the most meaningful letters and notes.  Recently I was going through some old photos and letters and trying to “down size”.  Many things were easy to throw away but when I found letters from her I could not find a way to part with them.  Each one was full of wisdom and a spiritual theme that only she could put into words.  She truly made you want to explore the spiritual realm more fully.  I have one particular card where she told me she was so thankful we were friends and at the end she said, “Isn’t is wonderful that we will be friends throughout Eternity!”  

Jenni became a very well know artist in Birmingham, Alabama.  She owned a gallery named Jennifer Harwell Art. She painted a lot of scenes from her home state of Oregon. She painted large and colorful. Her art is well know throughout the area.   Once I painted a painting of her in her gallery from a photo I had seen and the last time I visited her it was on her mantel.  I was honored.

It is hard to believe that this August Jenni will have been gone for seven years.  It was not easy to let go of a beautiful friend and watch her suffer and leave this world too soon.  I held on to her words and our times together and appreciate the fact that our lives intersected.  

I was asked to speak at her funeral, along with my husband.  I will never forget I went out on our deck overlooking the lake and asked her to speak to me.  I said, “Jenni, just one more time, let me know you are at peace.  If there is any way you can communicate to me ——I am here.”  I know this sounds crazy but please don’t write me off as a nut.  I knew if anyone could find a way it would be her.  I promise you ——-a large yellow butterfly started flying around me.  I laughed out loud.  I just knew it was a message from her.  I stayed in the swing on the back porch and watched as it flitted about.  I did not want to break the spell.  I said, “I knew you could do it!”  I walked in the house and told my husband, Audie that Jenni had just visited me in the form of a yellow butterfly and I  had a sense of peace.  You would need to know my husband.  My husband is a very reasonable man.  He has always been the more conservative one of our relationship.  For years he only wore blue or white buttoned down collared shirts. He is very smart and very analytical, on the other hand I was more of a bohemian dresser and was a little more "other worldly" in thought.  Audie once told me I found God behind every bush.  I told him it was because I looked.  Anyway on this particular day he just looked at me and smiled.  It was a smile I recognized.  It said, "she is a little crazy".   About an hour later he called to me from the front yard to come outside.  As I walked out the door I saw a large yellow butterfly flying around and and around him.  The look on his face was priceless.  I will have to say it was hard for me not to gloat.  Have you ever had an experience where you just “knew” something to be true.  It was not something you could explain or even pretend to make sense of it but one of those mystical things that makes you feel like the whole universe is smiling at you.  That was this day.

At the funeral we shared our story with Jenni’s husband,  Donnie.  Donnie stared at us with tears in his eyes and said “Jenni’s favorite thing was yellow butterflies.”  Yellow butterflies have become pretty special to me now and each time I see one I say, “I will see you in Eternity” and smile.

Hourglasses on the Beach - Sold

10" x 8" oil on stretched canvas

I am in Destin painting this month and the beach is gorgeous!  It is sunny and 73 today.  This morning it was raining so I did not go and paint Plein air with my group and decided to paint this beach pic.  I have saved this reference photo and knew I wanted to paint it.  I cannot find the source at this time but will and post that as well.  I love these girls.

My Wedding Day - SOLD

My Wedding Day- SOLD

Girl's Beach Trip- SOLD

6" x 6" on deep sided canvas with sides painted

Painting at the beach brings back good, good memories.

Best Night Ever - SOLD