Sunday Painter

I just posted the updated Fiesta Series Collection on my Sunday Painter Gallery Blog. This is a blog where I post my finished collections. My original plan for the Fiesta Series was to paint twelve (yes, always a dozen, it seems) 30"x40" oil paintings depicting my impressions and incorporating my favorite Fiestaware dishes. Did you know that my blog was originally intended to showcase my love for and collection of Fiesta dishes?  Yes, Ces And Her Dishes, that's what.

These painting collection was started in 2009 with Scarlet, a painting I almost threw away. With the encouragement of friends, I salvaged her and in so doing went through a most amazing journey of self discovery and re-prioritizing what is most important in my life. It is also a reminder of the the time wasted and squandered on unimportant and insignificant things and a lesson on focusing on what matters most. I did not know that what would follow would be some of the most difficult and challenging events in my adult life. If ever I had to choose a collection to define my work, this is it. Launch is a celebration of life, of anxieties, great hopes and expectations. The Sinistral Serenade was started when my sister was diagnosed with cancer and throughout her treatment, hoping, yearning and praying (My Favorite Things). The Ivory Babies is one of the most fun images I had to paint. I was filled with  gratitude and love and was so thankful to the point of elation.

I am very sorry to say that sister has passed away. Maybe it is time I paint another painting if ever I can see through my tears. Yet it is not always agony. This collection depicts happiness, discovery, hope and blessings over struggles. Of learning, discovery, growing up, living together and sharing. Most of all I painted all these images with the knowledge that I am grateful for the very important people in my life who I love. I have so many reasons to celebrate life and give thanks. How to incorporate that in a painting, I am curious myself. I will be fifty four years old this weekend. I share my birthday with my sister Freah. We always celebrated by calling our parents but they too are gone. Now we call our sisters and brothers. This is our first birthday celebration without our sister Leah. I  also just celebrated my 26th wedding anniversary. I think I will celebrate my birthday doing what I always love, paint in the midst of my beloved husband and children and thinking of those special few and faraway who I too do dearly love. I will be calling... You are the bright colors in my life. Thank you.

Happy Birthday to my beloved sister Fre!!!