Lilly- SOLD

This commission was created from the sweetest little grandchild of one of my long time friends.  I love the way she is hugging this little lamb and the child like message on her shirt, "Stay Magical".  

Rosy - SOLD

This painting was from a reference photo for a barnyard animal for a group I paint with.

8" x 8" oil on linen

Alone and Strong - SOLD

10" x 8" oil on stretched canvas

Gentle Spirit - SOLD

10" x 8"

oil on stretched canvas

Walking Down Duval - SOLD

10" x 8"

oil on stretched canvas

In Key West chickens and roosters walk around wild. They are everywhere.   It is against the law to kill one of these birds.  According to the wise internet, when the population gets out of control and the predatory hawks migrate out of town, Key West Wildlife Center will loan residents a humane chicken trap to collect unwanted birds.  Once caught the resident brings the chickens to the center.  There they are provided care and sent off to various farms on the mainland.  On the mainland, they are prized for their eggs and go to work as "organic pest control" workers.  

Amour - SOLD

10" x 8"

oil on stretched canvas

Kissing Lemons - SOLD

8" x 10" oil on linen canvas

I have the cutest sugar bowl that is shaped like a fish.  I put that with my favorite vase of daisies  on my window seal with a lemon today for a still life painting and the name of the painting came to me immediately because it looked like the fish was kissing a lemon.  You know how people say if life gives you lemons then make lemonade?  That is such a cutesy little saying but when I was in the grips of desperation, fear and pain it made me want to scream.  I was in a place of codependency for several years, worrying every day about a situation that was totally out of control.  I tried to manipulate it, make it go away and pray it away.  Nothing worked.  Now according to Melodie Beatty, "a codependent person is one who has let another person's behavior affect him or her and who is obsessed with controlling that person's behavior." I was obsessed.

There is an opioid crisis in this country.  According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, drug overdose deaths, including those involving opioids, continue to increase in the United States.  Deaths from drug overdose are up among both men and women, all races, and adults of nearly all ages.  Two out of three drug overdose deaths involve an opioid.  Opioids are substances that work in the nervous system of the body or in specific receptors in the brain to reduce the intensity of pain.  Overdose deaths from opioids, including prescription opioids, heroin and synthetic opioids (like fentanyl) have increased almost six times since 1999.  

We might have a tendency to look at those who are drug addicts as unworthy or "losers".  Those who have no desire to have a better life.  But I have found that addiction affects people of all socio-economic status, ages and races and many of those want to change. 
 I recently listened to a Super Soul Sunday podcast by Oprah Winfrey when she interviewed Shaka Senghor.  This man wrote Righting My Wrongs.  I felt that a lot of what he said could be applicable to addict behavior. He had previously spent 19 years incarcerated for murder.  His story is that he feels all persons are worthy of redemption.  He said he came face to face with his worse moment when he received a letter of forgiveness from the family of the man he killed when he was 19 years old.  He could not forgive himself. He realized that forgiveness takes time and that it requires receiving forgiveness and giving forgiveness.  He said the second thing he learned was about authenticity.  Being real.  He told about being in solitary confinement and asking himself, "how did you come from being an honor roll student to being in a place where you are in solitary confinement.?"  He then received a letter from his young son who said, "Dad, Mom told me you are in prison for killing someone.  Please do not kill anyone Dad.  Jesus watches what you do."  He realized at that moment he did not want his son to see him as a monster.  He hit rock bottom.  He looked at his own life and worked his way back to health by writing and embracing his true self and the power of transformation.  In the world of AA and NA and ALAnon, we hear the phrase, "rock bottom" a lot.  It appears that many times to make a change in our lives we have to come to that place where we want to change.  Rock bottom - where there is nowhere to go but up.  We desire to be transformed.  

This week I was the speaker at a Celebrate Recovery group.  I am not an alcoholic or an addict.  I am that mother, that wife, that sibling, that significant other and that friend who went through hell with the addict.   I spoke as a codependent of a former drug addict.  My addict was so deep in the throws of addiction I did not see a way out except death unless there was a miracle.   In my talk I relayed the truth from my own life that I have learned through that experience.  Things I could not have learned without those horrible lemons that came into my life.  I found a health that I would not have found.  A truth that I now know, and that is,  I am the only person I can change.  I also know without a shadow of a doubt that there is a God (Higher Power) that can perform miracles.  Not exactly the same as lemonade but better!

So.....today my family celebrates the wonderful, perfect, unbelievable miracle of 4 years of sobriety for someone we love. This person remains very active in meetings and sponsors others to assist them on their road to recovery.  My recovering addict told me today that it is hard to remember how bad those days of the past were because today he is living his best life.  

I would NEVER want anyone to go through this pain and agony but I am thankful that I learned lessons that helped me in this life journey.  I became more of my true self.  

And I have been kissing lemons all day.

Flower Child - SOLD

8" x 8" 

oil on wooden canvas


Jed is at it again!  The reference picture was one from his baby album.

Steeple Chase - Donated

Southern Comfort

11" x 14" oil on linen panel

$225

Recently I was in Hamilton, Alabama staying with my long time friend, Judy.  Judy's porch and entire home is so inviting.  This particular morning the sun was hitting the front porch just right and it felt so "comforting".    I love the fact that some of my paintings have ended up in her home.

Southern Brunch - SOLD

8" x 8" oil on wooden canvas - sides painted black

The tomato sandwich is a very Southern "thing" and this is the best time of year to enjoy.  There are several recipes out there but the best one I can remember is one that was featured in Southern Living many years ago and if I recall correctly it was from my neighbor at the time.  This is what I remember:

Slice ripe tomatoes (peel if you want)

Slice vidalia onions thin and place both items in a container with the onions on top of the tomatoes - place in the refrigerator

After several hours or overnight put the tomatoes on fresh, soft white bread or sour dough bread 

Add salt and pepper and a mixture of mayonnaise and mustard according to taste

You can add a couple of slices of the onion to the sandwich or not

So good!

Triple Save - Sold

8" x 8" oil on wooden canvas

sides painted black

Today I decided to start a little series of small paintings of common items I found in my kitchen.  These little wooden canvases are great.  They can be hung without a frame, framed in a floating frame or displayed on a stand.  While I was looking through my refrigerator I realized it was past due for a good cleaning out.  I took everything out and washed every shelf.  I even looked at the expiration dates on all the items.  Now this is something I rarely ever do EXCEPT when my grown kids are coming over for dinner.  They actually go through each thing in my refrigerator and feel the need to discard everything that is even a little (ok, some of it a lot) out of date.  I reminded them that I raised them and none of them ever had botulism that I know of.  These three apples are actually fresh and shiny so they made the cut.

By The Still Waters - SOLD

10" x 20"

Best place to be.

Free Spirits - SOLD

8" x 8"

Acrylic on wooden canvas (sides are 1/2" and painted - works great in stand)

Always - SOLD

8" x 10" 

oil on deep sided canvas (sides painted)

This weekend my husband and I attended the 100th Birthday Party of a special friend.  Mrs. Biddy Blessing Luna Stewart was my husband's favorite teacher.  She taught him in the third grade.  We reconnected with Mrs. Stewart about 15 years ago when we moved to Lake Martin and her daughter and husband were our neighbors. 

The flowers were on display on the table.  The home was lovely and filled with beautiful art.  The food and champagne punch were plenty.  The party was perfect.  There were many friends and family present and Mrs. Stewart was radiant.  One of the highlights of the day took place when her children, now grown with grown children of their own and many grandchildren, sang to her.  The song "Always" was one that she sang to them when they were young and she rocked them to sleep.  Her son, Jeb, sat down at the piano and her other children, Nancy and Blair accompanied him in singing this song back to Ms. Stewart.

"Always"

I'll be loving you always

With a love that's true always
When the things you've planned need a helpin' hand
I will understand always, always

Days may not be fair always
That's when I'll be there always
Not for just an hour, not for just a day
Not for just a year but always

Days may not be fair always
That's when I'll be there always
Not for just an hour, not for just a day
Not for just a year but always

Mrs. Stewart then stood up and thanked everyone for coming and making her day so special.  She said she wanted to give everyone in the room a gift her mother had given her.  She then recited a poem from memory.  The essence of the poem was that each of us is to bring our best to the world and when you send out love in life, it returns to you.  Needless to say, there was not a dry eye in the room.  Eric Erickson calls this last stage of life integrity versus despair.  Mrs. Stewart is the epitome of integrity.  This is where words fail to describe what I want to say.  Mrs. Stewart is love. She sends it out to all she meets and all who cross her path.  I am so thankful I am one who crossed - always.

Cat Yoga - Namaste - NFS

12" x 12" oil on linen panel

Last weekend I spent a wonderful time in Hamilton, Alabama painting outdoors while participating in the Alabama Bicentennial Event.  I stayed with my long time wonderful friend Judy.  Judy has the gift of hospitality and always makes me feel special and pampered.  She also has three cats that belong to her daughter living with her and her husband, John.  I am allergic to cats.  That means I keep my bedroom door closed at night and I love to watch them but cannot touch them.  Jed seems to know that I do really like him but I keep a safe distance.  This particular morning I was sitting drinking coffee and Jed watched me intently from his favorite footstool.  Jed is a little overweight and is having issues with blood sugar so he cannot have treats at the moment and my heart goes out to him.  I think this particular morning he was practicing staying in a peaceful place.  Namaste Jed.

Pasture Eyes - SOLD

8" x 10" oil on paper mounted on gatorbord

Headed to the country.

Hamilton-Sullins House - Sold

14" x 11"
oil on linen panel


I will be painting with a group from Mountain Brook Art Association in Hamilton, Alabama  Thursday and Friday.  This town has a lot of history.    "The city was first call Toll Gate but later the name was changed to honor Captain Albert James Hamilton.  Captain Hamilton donated forty acres of his land to the town, surrounding what is now known as the Historic Hamilton-Sullins House.  The same forty acres were then divided into lots and sold to help cover the cost of building the courthouse. " (Hamilton  Area Chamber of Commerce and Hamilton B.A.S.E. )  I personally love Hamilton.  We lived there for 6 years and we were surrounded by people who are so unique.  Most of them lived in Hamilton all of their lives.  Many went off to college, married their childhood sweetheart and moved back.  A very special place indeed full of loving people.

Lovejoy Church - SOLD

12" x 12" oil on linen panel

This is another painting from the historical sites of Hamilton, Alabama.

Close to Home

12" x 12" oil on linen panel

$250 

This week I will be participating in a painting event in Hamilton, Alabama.  There will be an opening reception August 2nd at city Hall of the "Alabama Then and Now" exhibition.  

Sweetie - SOLD

8" x 8" oil on wooden canvas (sides painted black)

There are some photographers who excel at capturing emotion in their work.  Renee Clark is one.  The reference from this photo is taken from one of her photos of her cat, Sweetie.

Cat Nap

12" X 12"

oil on linen panel

This cat loves sitting in the sunny window - reference photo provided by Didia Vong.

Fat Cat - SOLD

11" x 14"

oil on linen panel

This is my friend's cat.  He is fat and has a great life.

Tannehill Country Church - SOLD

11" x 14"

oil on linen panel

Partners in Wine

10" x 10" 

oil on canvas panel

$150

Sometimes no words are needed.

Aquinnah - sold

16" x 20" oil on linen panel

We recently returned from a trip up the coast of Maine.  Aquinnah is a town located on the island of Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts.  It is known for it's beautiful clay cliffs and quiet natural serenity.

You're A Knockout - SOLD

10" x 10" oil on linen panel

This morning I got up early, fed the hummingbirds, cut the last of my knockout roses and set up to paint them.  I thought I had a great idea in mind.  Well......let me just say that anyone who has painted before knows the agony of trying to control Cadmium Red paint.  It gets everywhere!  I spent an hour washing brushes, the carpet, myself and my dog.  There are times when someone will ask me to paint a painting similar to one I have painted before.  I can tell you that this will not happen with this painting.  If you like this painting I would just say please buy it because I may never paint with Cadmium Red again.  

Peace in the Mountains - SOLD

I love it when a customer ask to have a painting of a scene so beautiful. 
I enjoyed painting this and find such serenity in the composition.  This is 
one of my favorites.

Camera Shy - SOLD

Sometimes we just do not want our picture taken.  I understand.

11" x 14" oil on linen panel

Milk Duds - SOLD

These two were just asking to be painted.

11" x 14" oil on linen panel

You Can Always Go Home - SOLD

My Forever Friend Priscilla - SOLD

I have been out of town and Max, my little white helper has been afraid to leave my side since I returned.  It is amazing how our dogs can look at us in the eye and communicate so much.  I cannot imagine losing Max.  Priscilla was a great companion to two little boys and will be missed by all.

Unexpected Friends

20" x 20" oil on deep sided canvas

$300

I absolutely love meeting friends when it was totally unexpected.  Over 40 years ago my husband and I were living in Lexington, Kentucky while he was attending seminary.  I met a wonderful woman named Lena.  I was young, away from home and working at the University of Kentucky.  Lena was over all the student records for the Engineering School and I was the secretary for the Civil Engineering Department.  She became my second mother.  There were many Friday night meals, fires in the fireplace when it snowed and wisdom shared as I learned how to work in a professional setting.  While I was there my first child was born and Lena came to my aid.  She gave my son his first bath and assured me I would not break his arms when I bathed him.  We teased that she was my mother in law as her last name was also Hodges.  Three years later after we had moved back to Alabama and I had another baby, she came to stay with me and this time helped me with two small children and come to grips with the loss of a baby all at the same time.  The fact that this friendship was part of my journey has been a gift I will always cherish.  I leaned on her so much!  As I write this Lena is asleep on my couch.  Her daughter brought her for a visit and we have talked, laughed and shared a lot to fill in the blanks of 40 years.     Today while meeting my daughter for lunch she told me that getting older is hard and she does not feel as steady as she used to be.   I never felt I could repay her for what she did for me.    Today I felt privileged to have her lean on my arm as we walked into the restaurant.

Flower Squirrel - SOLD

10" x 10" 

oil on panel

Sunflowers Out of the Blue - DONATED

11" x 14"

oil on linen panel

Today was so much fun!  I painted with my friend who said she was frustrated with her painting so we painted together and I gave her an assignment.  I had a complete set up in my garage with lights, easels and flowers.  I can get real bossy teaching, for instance, I would tell her to "stop" quite often and to place her colors down and leave them.  I would not let her go back over her painting or "muddy" it.  It turned out sooooo good!  I was so impressed - I wish I had taken a picture of her painting also but I did not.  I have several people asking me to teach a class and I am looking for a venue for that.  I love to see someone feel good about their painting!  There is creativity in all of us.  

Nuts - SOLD

Maybe because this happened when I was younger it embarrassed me so much.  I was grocery shopping with my three small children.  My oldest son Matt was around 8 years old,  my daughter, Allie was 5 and my youngest, Adam was 6 months or so.  Adam was sitting in the grocery cart seat and Matt and Allie were running around the cart.  If you have ever been a young mother just trying to keep your sanity with your kids running around you crazy then you might understand how I was feeling.  I was trying to grab groceries off the shelves, keep Adam occupied and keep the other two in sight.  I hurriedly pushed my cart up to a salesman in the store and asked,  "Excuse me but where are your nuts?."  As soon as the words came out of my mouth I knew I had messed up but it was too late.  NO!!! NO!! NO!!! I thought, I did not just say that!  I could feel all the blood in my body rush to my face and I told myself to just keep eye contact.  And definitely I should not look down.  Even my children were aware that those words could have a different connotation.  The man smiled slightly at my discomfort and pointed two rolls away and said, "The PECANS are on aisle 5".  I could not get away fast enough.  

The next week when I went in to work, the charge nurse asked me to go to room 121 and take out the patient's IV, change his dressing and provide discharge teaching.  She explained the patient had a hernia repair three days ago.  I went to meet the patient, I explained what I was going to do and proceeded to remove his IV.  He was looking at me very intently and then he said, "You look so familiar to me but I cannot place you."  I replied that I was not from the area but moved there two years previously.  Then I asked him, "Where do you work?"  He said, "Kroger".  Realization hit me and him at the same time.  I slapped the bandaid on his hand and almost tripped trying to get out of the room.  I ran to the medicine room and closed the door behind me.  My friend came into the room right after me and asked, "What is wrong with you?  I just saw you running down the hall."  I said. "Beverly, please go and discharge my patient for me.  I cannot remove his dressing!  Trust me.  He might think that I really want to look under his sheet."

I had many more embarrassing moments during my nursing career but this one still makes me uncomfortable.  I cannot believe I am even writing this.  But I did learn from this. I learned that in every grocery store, the pecans are usually in the baking aisle near the cake mixes.  I never ask now.

Annie - SOLD

It is a challenge to take an old black and white and try and infuse color - using my imagination to think what this beautiful woman might look like and what her personality might have been.  

Good Good Friends - SOLD

I sketched this picture today to use as an example for a painting later and it reminds me of the gift of good, good friends who are friends forever.

I cannot believe it was almost 20 years ago when I worked as the Director of Women's Services at Cullman Regional Medical Center.  I met some good, good friends there.  At the time I managed Labor and Delivery and the Nursery, a couple of my other friends managed ICU, the Medical Unit and the Surgical Unit.  We became very close and we supported each other through thick and thin.  One year we decided to take a trip together and attend the Jazz Festival in New Orleans.  Maybe because we were responsible for 24 hour a day call on our units we felt a little like renegades to all be away from the hospital for a weekend together.  We had wonderful charge nurses who took on our responsibilities and we felt free!  We ate at Emeril's restaurant, we went shopping and we battled the wild rush of fans at the festival.  It was a time to remember.  The shopping trip turned out to be one we still laugh about.  Sheila, one of the friends and I were walking into the mall and remarked on how cool it was and how we really did not bring appropriate clothes but, hey, we were on vacation.  We could just buy what we needed.  Sheila is tall, blond and regal looking.  This particular day she had on cropped pants made out of a green army pattern.  This was before the day when "fanny packs" were making a come back and Shelia had on a black "fanny pack" to keep up with all of her money while we shopped.  We went in to a store where they had sweaters on sale for $5!  Sheila said she really needed a sweater since the temperature was getting cooler.  She found one on the sale table, the only problem was that it was orange.  Not just orange but bright orange.  She said, "Marcia should I do this?  I mean this looks horrible with my green army fatigue pants?"  We were in New Orleans!  We were having a carefree weekend so I went with the moment and said, "Sheila! Of course you can get it.  We are in New Orleans and no one knows us here.  Who do you think would say anything?  The fashion Police?"

We enjoyed the entire weekend and actually walked all over New Orleans.  

About a month later I was sitting in my office and Sheila ran in and threw a Glamour magazine on my desk.  She then quoted me and said, "Who would care?  The fashion Police?"  There on the pages of the magazine was Sheila complete in army fatigue cropped pants, a fanny pack and a bright orange sweater.  Her eyes were blacked out so unless you knew it was Sheila it would be hard to tell ---kinda.  Anyway, the magazine had a page dedicated to fashion statements.  They were called "Do's" and "Don'ts". These were outfits that you might want to "do" because they were in fashion or "don't" because this particular look just would not work.   Unfortunately, Sheila's wardrobe was labeled as a "Don't"!!

I had lunch several months ago with Sheila and another friend from that trip, Paula.  We still laugh about that.  Sheila has not let me forget it.  I am so thankful for good friends but I will no longer be giving out fashion advice. :)

God Winks - Gifted

When I was 19 years for only 2 weeks I got married.  I won't even go into how long ago that was.  My husband was in college and pastoring 4 small churches.  We lived in Waterloo, Alabama which is the end of the road - any road.  We were the youngest people in the small town by about 40 years.  My best friend was my neighbor, a retired Methodist Minister's wife who was 72 at the time.  Mrs. Jaggers was very small and fragile looking except for her hair which looked like the pictures you see of Albert Einstein.  She looked like she had been electrocuted but she was special.    She  and her husband gave me a wonderful gift when I met them.  They told me that they thought I was a smart young woman and they wanted to pay my college tuition while I lived there.  What a gift that changed my life.  Audie was still in college and there was no way we could pay for two college degrees at that time. 

 Every day Mrs. Jaggers would walk with me around our little neighborhood and tell me stories of her life.  I am sure she was trying to mentor me as a minister's wife as I was clueless.   One day she told me about the birth of her 5 sons.  She then told me about the birth of her one daughter.  She told me that her daughter had died at birth and she cried as she relayed the story.  In my young, naive mind I thought, " that was really a long time ago and I would expect her to be over that by now."  But I remembered that day. We moved from that little community but Mrs. Jaggers remained in my heart and life.  

Six years went by and I found myself as a young mother who had just had a baby girl die.  I was devastated.  Even though I had a 2 1/2 year old son and another newborn daughter, I was very mad and did not understand why God would let my child die.  Several people tried to comfort me during that time but nothing worked.  I did not want to hear one more person say, "God needed a little rose bud in Heaven."  Are you kidding me?  God needed my daughter to make a rosebud?  I know they were trying to just say something but it did not work.  One night I got a call from a little 78 year old friend who said "God will come to you."  I could believe that message because it came from Mrs. Jaggers and I had seen her life and I remembered.

It was at this time that I two prints that I loved.  One was a little blond boy who looked like my son and the other was a little girl.  I asked Audie if I could get these prints framed.  I told him maybe they would be a reminder to me of the children I had and I would let go of the grief of the little one I did not have.  He told me that our hospital bills were so huge at the time that we really did not have frames in our budget. Now, I am just being real here.  I said, "Not only does my child die but I cannot get these damn pictures framed!"

Two weeks passed and one day I received a large package in the mail.  The package was from a professor at the University of Kentucky.  I had worked for several professors there while Audie was in graduate school.  There was a note inside the package that read, "Marcia, I cannot explain this but when I saw these pictures I knew you had to have them. " Inside the package were the identical prints to the ones I had - matted and framed.   I felt like I had received a letter from God.  He knew me.  I still did not have answers to hard questions, but God knew me.  

Squire Rushnell wrote a book about God Winks.  In it he says that many people experience coincidences in their everyday lives that are too strange to be chalked up to just mere chance.  He calls them God Winks.  A personal communication from God to an individual, which is usually a circumstance or event that seems like a coincidence but is too personal and unbelievable to be so.  God Winks.

d

 

               

Trust- SOLD

10" x 10" oil on linen panel

Recently I have been painting some high key paintings (primarily light tones) and because this is different for me I sometimes find myself asking, "what am I trying to say?"  Then I might add one stroke - just one stroke and the painting feels complete.  I have prepared to paint for years by attending classes, reading, studying and drawing, and painting and painting.  Why is it so hard to trust that creative spirit that has prepared?

The Look of Love - SOLD

24" x 24" oil on deep sided canvas with sides painted

Magnolia - SOLD

If you live in the South you can probably smell this right now.  I love magnolias.

Belle- SOLD

Home is where someone runs to greet you.

Holding On - NFS

This is nurse's week and I have been thinking alot about my many years as a nurse.  I worked as  a Women's Health Practitioner in several roles so my nursing career focused on mothers and babies.  I remember one mother who came into the unit in labor and she had no idea how far along her pregnancy was.  This was years ago when ultrasounds were not very sophisticated, as they are today.  I remember the doctor performing an ultrasound on our very old equipment and he told me to schedule a helicopter transport for the patient to a high risk facility because she was in active labor and the baby looked very small on ultrasound and we were not equipped at our small community hospital to offer the care this infant would need.  I went to tell the patient of the plan and she said, "I cannot do that.  Please deliver my baby here.  I do not have transportation and if my baby is born in another city I will not have a way to go back and forth to be with him.  I have other children at home  and no money."  I told the doctor what she said and he said, "well we will do the best we can."  The baby's heart rate started to drop and it was evident the patient would require a cesarean section delivery.  As I was getting her ready for surgery, the patient asked me, "would you do something for me?"  I said, "Yes" thinking she might want me to call someone but instead she asked, "would you pray for my baby?"  I laid my hands on her tummy and prayed.   I do admit, it was a selfish prayer asking God to please help me, the doctor and the pediatrician know how to care for this small infant.  As the patient was taken to surgery, I got the nursery ready to admit a premie.  When I heard the pediatrician come down the hall from surgery, he was walking.  My heart dropped because I thought the baby surely had died during delivery and he had no reason to hurry.  But I was wrong, he said, "Marcia, come to the warmer."  He opened his little blanketed bundle and there was a kicking, squirming, whimpering little fellow who weighed in at 6 pounds, 3 ounces and he was breathing without assistance.  

Later the obstetrician came back to the station and he asked me, "What went on back there?  The patient said you saved her baby's life?"  I told him I had prayed for her and the baby.  Not sure how he would respond I told him I would never force my beliefs on someone but the patient had asked me to pray for her so I did.  He then smiled and said, "could you be on call for that because it is a lot easier than a helicopter transport."

This Sunday is Mother's Day and I celebrate mothers.

This painting was completed on my iPad - just a quick sketch but I loved the picture.

Happy Mothers Day.

Beach Babes - SOLD

This is one of my favorite paintings.  It is large, 24" x 30" and painted with a palette knife so the paint is thick and painted in an impasto style.  This picture of my friend and her children creates so many wonderful memories for me.  I loved playing on the beach with my children when they were young and today I love playing with my grandchildren. 

 I count myself blessed to have lived a life full of great friendships, exciting jobs, opportunities to lead women's retreats and speak at various functions.  Now I am truly living my dream as I can paint every day and spend time with friends and family.  As I look back on the things that have meant so much in my life I remember one day years ago when I was sad.  My 10 day old  daughter had just died from an overwhelming infection received at birth.  Even though I had her twin sister to care for and my 2 1/2 year old son, I found myself questioning my abilities as a mother.  I was "stuck" in the grief.  On that particular day I remember being busy and preoccupied washing clothes and straightening up the house and being lost in thought.   My little son called out to me and got my attention.  He said, "Momma, did you hear me?  I said you sure are a good Momma."  That simple little message from such a little fellow changed my perspective.  That was a turning point, a time when I knew it was time to move forward, hold the past in my heart but dedicate my time to my two little people right in front of me.  Five years later that very sad day, the day of my little girl's death became a Birthday as my youngest son was born on the same date.  God has a way of speaking that is personal.  I think every Mother loves to hear those words that she is a good mother.  Those word can heal a heart and create smiles that last a lifetime.
So to all of you mother's out there - hear these words:

"You sure are a good Momma!"