Lucy- GIFTED

 I have written about the relationship with our animals before and how they become a part of our families and touch our lives so deeply. This is Lucy and she was much loved.

I'm On Top of the World -SOLD

 Memories are made of moments like this.

Little Mama Ballerina in Cowboy Boots - SOLD

 At the present time I am not taking commissions as I am working on a couple of projects but when the grandmother of this little ballerina sent me this picture I fell in love.  I felt the reference photo had a story to tell about a little girl all dressed up with dreams.  She is going to be a ballerina and a Mama but she has a toughness to her that will carry her far in life so don't even try to take her cowboy boots away. :)

Sweet Home in Alabama - SOLD

 

You're My Person - SOLD

 

Spring Has Sprung - SOLD

 

Sugar Baby - SOLD

     10" x 10" oil on linen panel

You Were Always My Cup of Tea - SOLD

 

There is a Bluebird at My Window - SOLD

Valentines Day

 14" x 11" mixed media on linen panel

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1160237978/valentines-day?click_key=363437850884359ba50075e108fd09aaa91a48e1%3A1160237978&click_sum=6c28031b&ref=shop_home_active_1&frs=1&sts=1

I loved the reference photo for this painting that I found on Museum.  I am painting a lot of mixed media this month and incorporating mark making and abstract backgrounds in my pieces.  I also love paintings that tell a story and I felt this one did.  Plus it was right for Valentines Day.  The small heart in the bottom right hand corner if a piece of one of my old palettes that I loved and part of his bowtie is a torn piece of scrapbook paper.  These little abstract pieces add interest to me.  I hope you enjoy.

My Wedding Day - Gift

 I always hope I can capture the emotion in a moment.

Little Man - Gift

This little guy makes a great muse for a rainy day like today.  He loves to cook (that is a spatula in his hand).  He is full of energy, something I want to capture in my paintings so  I am working with mixed media and some new techniques trying to capture energy and mark making.  This little guy actually made some very interesting marks on my daughters wall this week so maybe I can learn something from him.

The Flower Girls - Gift

The Flower Girls

 In November we had the most beautiful day in our family.  A magical wedding with a beautiful bride.  There were four little flower girls, nieces of the bride and they had so much fun.  They all had matching robes, had their hair done and then donned beautiful little white dresses.  There was a lot of laughter from this group and they even sneaked a peak at the groom and bride's first look at each other.  

Hooter - Donated

 10" x 8" acrylic on canvas board

Sometimes it is good to laugh and this little whimsical owl makes me smile.  He is also a reminder of a fun day spent with my good friend, Deb.  Deb loves to shop and the last weekend in October we decided to knock out some Christmas shopping.  As we were leaving one store we decided to grab some lunch.  It was raining and we did not really want to go back to our car and drive in the rain.  Deb saw a restaurant across the parking lot and said, "Why don't we just go there.  It is close and we can walk."  So we walked over and entered the restaurant.  The  young lady who met us at the entrance was dressed with angel wings and what looked like lingerie from Victoria's Secrets but not much was left "secret".  Then I realized it was Halloween so I thought she was dressed for the occasion. I said, "Oh, you look so cute."  She looked at me very funny and said, "Uh....Thank you???"  She then walked us to our table.  Deb and I were still talking about the great shopping we had done when we sat down.  When our waitress appeared we were speechless!  She also wore lingerie complete with fishnet hose and a very, very skimpy outfit.  I must admit being a feminist at heart, I was concerned about her choice of attire.  It was about that time we looked around the large room to see that we were the only females eating at Twin Peaks.  Every other customer, and there were a lot of them, were male.  Then it dawned on us that this restaurant must be a restaurant similar to Hooters.  Hooters is another restaurant known for girls with perky or perfect bustlines.   Hooter girls are noted on the internet to be hired as "entertainers" not waitresses.  The internet search I did on Twin Peaks girls said that "nothing compares to a Twin Peaks Girl.  the iconic buffalo plaid stands for more than just serving great food and ice cold beer with a smile.  It's an invitation to be you, to be unique, and to bring a one-of-a-kind experience to every guest, every time."   Mission accomplished.  

 We started to leave  but we were hungry and we decided we were of the age that we could do whatever we wanted.  So we stayed.  I did however have a long talk with our waitress.  She was a doll and I asked her, "Why?  Why would you dress like that and work at a place like this?" She told us she was working on her degree and in the last year she had paid off thousands of dollars of her student loans.  Well that is one way of doing it I guess.  The manager paid Deb and I a visit and we told him we felt a little out of place but he assured us we were very welcome.    We must have been there on a day when plaid was replaced by lingerie  but the food was really good!

The Hunting Club - SOLD

 

My Presence is a Promise - SOLD

 Recently a friend asked me to paint a redbird for her friend who had recently lost her sister.  The friend had come upon the story relating the sighting of a redbird as a sign that their loved one is near.  There are also stories of redbirds being a sign of hope or peace.  A message of a promise...a good promise.  The unknown can create doubt and questions about our faith of a life after death.  Doubt is not bad, it can actually be a way of finding faith because asking questions lead us to researching and that leads us to answers in our faith.  Faith is about taking a leap. There is a scripture of hope found in John 14:1-6 "Don't be troubled.  Trust in God.  Trust also in me.  My Father's house has room to spare.  if that weren't the case, would I have told you that I'm going to prepare a place for you, I will return and take you to be with me so that where I am you will be too." I admit I am always looking for "signs".  Signs that there is Someone greater who is orchestrating life and the situations that are beyond our limited minds and belief.  

I have been in a week of sadness as I am at that place of grief and questioning.  My sister in law who has been my "sister" for the majority of my life is facing those final moments in this life.  She is receiving palliative care and her time on earth is limited.  My friend had no idea that I needed to paint this redbird, not only for her friend but for myself.  I needed this reminder, this promise that our loved ones are at peace and I am counting on the fact that we will see them again.

Thank you Gale.

Faithfully - SOLD

         16" x 20" acrylic on stretched canvas

Wallflowers - SOLD

                 20" x 16" acrylic on stretched canvas

I love the paintings in my home.  Each one touches something in my soul and has it's own unique story.  I only hope my art brings that same joy to those who collect it.  Every year right after Christmas after I have painted commissions for months I tell myself I am no longer going to take commissions.  Then I take a commission and a painting appears on my easel that I just fall in love with.  I feel that way about this one.

Little Carri - SOLD

 

Buster and Jeanna - Gifted

 

Angel- SOLD

 

Sassy and The Girls - SOLD

 

My Bride - SOLD

 

Black Santa

 I love painting Santa.  He has so many faces.

10" x 10" acrylic on linen panel

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1114998478/black-santa?ref=hp_rv-1&frs=1

Oh Mary - SOLD

 

We Have Plans - SOLD

 I have written about a boy and his dog before but the reference picture for this painting says volumes.  

Snow Bird - SOLD

 

Christmas Redbird - SOLD

 

Brie - SOLD

 

Me and PeePaw - SOLD

 This painting of a grandfather introducing his grandson to Dodgers Stadium pricked my heart.  This long time Dodgers fan wanted to share with his grandson an important piece of himself.  Being an avid fan he was sharing the excitement, the team spirit and the gift of being a sports fan with  his grandson who would carry on the tradition of supporting his team in those stands.  

There is research that has been done on the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren.  A close relationship brings to the child an endless supply of love, acceptance, patience and unwavering support that the grandparent offers in a unique way.  Grandchildren can always trust their grandparent and know that they always have someone on their side.  Research has also shown that kids who get to spend a lot of time with grandma and grandpa tend to have few emotional and behavioral problems.  For the grandparents there are lower levels of stress and depressive mood and they report having more meaning in their lives.  

For me personally, my life changed when those first grandchildren arrived.  Something about holding that little, trusting, dependent person in my arms for the first time brought my entire life full circle.  I was extremely blessed to have twin grandchildren and I was in love at first sight.  I could spoil them, spend the entire day playing with them and then know that I could always take a nap after they went home.  The fact that I was older, wiser and had less responsibilities provided more freedom to spend time with them than I had when I was a working Mom to my own kids.  It truly is a grand time.

Peek A Boo - SOLD

 

The Little Flower Girl and Her Escort - SOLD

 

My Forever Friend - SOLD

 

My Little Girl You Will Always Be - SOLD

 I absolutely loved painting this painting.  It speaks to me of the relationship between a mother and her child so much.  These tender, quiet, relaxed moments are on my mind a lot lately.  I   remember watching the sunset at the lake or drying tears after a skinned knee or just enjoying the time when one of them crawled up into my lap just to be there.  That seems like yesterday.

In three weeks my youngest son is getting married.  We have been in the process of selecting a song for our Mother/Son dance at the reception.  We chose a song from one of his favorite childhood movies, 

Somewhere Out There.

Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight

Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight
Somewhere out there someone's saying a prayer
That we'll find one another in that big somewhere out there

And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishin' on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky

Somewhere out there, if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true

And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishin' on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky

Somewhere out there, if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true

A Reely Good Day - SOLD

 

Walking With Our Buddies - SOLD

 Can anyone really know what unconditional love is without a dog?

Special, Special Day - NFS

 

Bama in the House Divided - SOLD

 24" x 18" with deep sides that are painted

I recently painted the mascot for Auburn University (the eagle) and I have had several folks request the mascot for Alabama. I am not sure if you are aware of the rival teams in Alabama but it is serious business.  My husband is a huge Auburn fan so I have this guy hiding out in my studio :)

 

Warrrrrrr Eagle - SOLD

Night, Night, Sweet Dreams - SOLD

I am not sure there is anything more precious than a newborn baby.  The way they smell, the way they smile in their sleep, the way they wiggle and the way they snuggle in your arms.  They are even more precious when they let you get a little sleep.  These two little snuggle bunnies are going to grace the nursery of a sweet little baby and I hope they help their little girl sleep.
 

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

 

You Will Always Be With Us - SOLD

 

A House Full of Memories - SOLD

When I was in Nursing School I learned about Erik Erikson's stages of life.  Of course, at the time I was more interested in the Young Adult stage thinking that the Middle Adulthood and Late Adulthood stages were so far away that they only related to my elderly patients.  Ha!  Now I am really interested in those stages.  Erikson stated that individuals between 40 and 65 years of age fall into the Middle Adulthood stage and it is a stage of generatively versus stagnation.  Generativity is when the adult instills a sense of care and responsibility in passing on their learnings to the next generation through parenting or mentoring.  If the individual is bitter or unhappy, they may stay restless and isolated without making any positive contribution to society.  In Late Adulthood, those who are 65 years and older are in the stage of ego integrity versus despair.  If they feel satisfied and take pride in what they did in their lives, they flaunt their wisdom and accept age with grace.  Those who believe they underachieved or have regrets fall into despair.  I came across another philosophy of the stage of the human life cycle by Thomas Armstrong.  He stated that Mature Adulthood encompasses those who are ages between 50 and 80 years of age.  They have raised families, established themselves in their work life and become contributors to the betterment of society through volunteerism, mentorships, and other forms of philanthropy.  All of humanity benefits from their benevolence.  Moreover, we all can learn from their example to give more of ourselves to others.  Supporting each other through these life cycles is very important.  Many times during Mature Adulthood we have to make decisions that remind us we are moving into a new phase.  Selling of our long time home where we raised our families, retiring from our jobs that have held certain pieces of our self esteem, or maybe even coming to grips with a lack of physical strength or agility that we once took for granted.  Major life events. When I was asked to paint this commission of the long time home of someone's parents who are relocating, I had these ideas in my mind.  I thought what a thoughtful gift to give parents who might be crossing in to a new phase of life.  A gift that says, "I see you, I love you and I appreciate your life."  A real honor.

Three's Company - SOLD

 This Holiday weekend we spent time with grandkids and kids at the lake.  There was a lot of swimming, boating, riding on tubes, eating, playing and laughing.  I could not help to look at my grandkids who some are now taller than me and wonder when did they grow up?  I can remember when my kids, their parents, were the kids.   At that time, I was trying to balance a job, going to graduate school and feeding and bathing three kids.  I thought some days my life was impossible and I would never have a minute to myself again.  Older women told me that my children would grow up so fast and the time would just fly by.  I didn't think so.

When all the kids left the lake this week, my husband and I were on the deck with a lot of quiet.  We both said we could not believe how fast the years had gone.  Our kids are now grown up adults and their kids are well on their way to becoming adults.  There are times when I think my way of thinking is so right but I see the fault in that now.  I was so wrong.  I now have a lot of minutes to myself and at times secretly wish to revisit those old days when I was a young mother with days full of chaos.

It Was Love at First Sight - SOLD

 14" x 11" oil on Linen panel

Mr. Snowman - SOLD

 

Sweet Angel Kisses - SOLD

 I absolutely love seeing a sleeping baby.

MaMa and Her Boys - SOLD

 

I have been asked to speak at our church this Sunday for Mother's Day and during the preparation for this talk I have been reminiscing about the experiences I have had as a Mother.  I remember all the joy, laughter, tears and frustrations of raising children.  Today I am so thankful for the amazing adults my children have become.  Time really does fly I realized when painting this picture of a Mom and her boys.