Greetings Subscriber!
It is the darnedest thing: despite the fact that November and December have come around with regularity every year of my rather long life, somehow, I'm still surprised when those months arrive. Good grief...wasn't it just January? I hope the past months have been good to you.
With Thanksgiving looming in the US, I've been reflecting on my "rather long life" and am so very grateful to have made it this long given my cancer diagnosis at age 26. But more importantly, I'm so very grateful to the souls in my life who have made my heart bloom through my art making.
My greatest blessing is to have always had the complete support of my parents. Until I was born, my Mom, also an artist, was an elementary art teacher. She had me making art since I was 3. At the start of my college search, both Mom and Dad totally supported my strong desire to go to art school. And Mom was the one who introduced me to oil and plein air painting when my career had taken me in a completely different direction. As I've matured, I've come to realize my good fortune; I mean, how many college majors are so consuming, challenging and enjoyable for an entire lifetime?
My other greatest blessing is my husband Kem. Although he did not grow up around art, he has come to appreciate how important it is to my well-being. When I want to head off to some plein air event, he says "go"! He's taken over most of the laundry, much of the housekeeping, and at least half of the cooking to give me more time to paint. And he's extremely patient when we're on the road and I suddenly state quite emphatically "Pull over, I need photos of that!" Am I lucky or what?
Then there's my high school art teacher, Doug Parker. He challenged me, guided me and encouraged me. He suggested I look at the School of Art at East Carolina University, his alma mater. And that's where I landed. To this day, we still share our art journey and cheer each other on.
My artist friends are a constant source of inspiration. We challenge each other, encourage each other, critique with compassion, commiserate, and applaud each other's efforts. We all "get" how this art thing is so deeply entrenched in our hearts.
My workshop students really know how to make my heart bloom. There's nothing as rewarding as watching the excitement grow as lessons fall into place with a beginning or returning artist.
Last but not least, I'm so incredibly grateful for my collectors. They view my paintings as worthy of their hard earned cash, and of course that helps me buy more supplies to make more art! But more importantly, they give my paintings good homes. It can be hard saying "goodbye" to a painting that holds joyful memories, but sharing that joy with others is what makes my art bloom. My art does no one any good if it's not shared. Thank you for bringing my art into your homes.
In this season of thanks and gratitude, I've decided to extend my Hurricane Helene NC Mountain Recovery Fundraiser through the end of the year. 50% from the sale of any painting in this collection will be donated to the charity of the buyers choice to assist with Hurricane Helene relief. So far, I've donated $378 relief in the NC Mountains. $100 went to Darnell Farms, where I painted "Pick Your Own". The remainder went to the Asheville Humane Society as suggested by the collector of "The House that George Built". Any of these paintings would make a unique and heartfelt holiday gift while also helping a region that still very much needs our help.
Wishing all of you a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving.
