Continuing with Lilties

In this grief journey, I knew the holidays were going to be hard without Paul, and while it was such a different, almost surreal time, we did have wonderful family times together celebrating this season. But I hadn’t anticipated that it would be so hard to move into this new year. The realization that I could no longer say I just lost Paul, but now had to say, I lost Paul last year was heartwrenching. It felt like I was effectively leaving him behind and moving forward without him. But time doesn’t stop for the grief. Life goes on. And I’m continuing to be amazed and so grateful for the many blessings God brings into my life. 

On this path, I’m continuing to paint the small Liltie artworks. These two 4x6 original watercolors are titled: “Two by Two” and “Blue Paddle.”  

Into a New Year

January is a perfect time for painting. Working on a collection of “lilties” - those small watercolor paintings celebrating the things that speak to my heart. These are titled: “Soft Light” and “Camp View.” See more at wildriverarts.com or check out my artwork at the Stillwater Art Gallery in historic Stillwater Minnesota. 

Closing of a Chapter

It seems fitting that in this season of grief, it is also a time of recognizing closures. So it is with sadness that I announce that I’ll be closing out my collection of original watercolors at the Plum Bottom Gallery in Door County. It’s been a wonderful partnership – the staff at each of these four gallery spaces are so exceptional and it’s been a joy to work with them all. I’ll be picking up my paintings in mid-December, and if you are interested, it’s a great time to take advantage of their current free shipping offer.

A heartfelt thank you to all who have purchased my artwork through Plum Bottom Gallery over the past five years. I so appreciate your support and kind encouragement! And I will always remember and treasure this time of working full-time on art with my late husband and incredible framer, Paul. We serve a faithful God, and I rest assured that new directions are opening even in this time of transition. Wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving.

Coming Back: Golden Hour and Heather Haze

It’s been a long time since I wrote in this space – five and a half months to be exact. It's taken me this long to feel like I can gather my thoughts, allow my spirit to breathe creativity, and return to making art. It’s an ongoing journey – this difficult and unpredictable path through deep grief. Some days and some moments are better than others. While it’s not encouraging to realize that my heart will never truly recover – Paul was such a deep essential part of my being – yet I’m grateful that my mind is beginning to heal from the overwhelming fog of grief and I’m beginning to feel a rhythm of forward movement. I’m finding it’s essential to have a daily structure – even if it needs to be flexible because I may not be coherent until about 10 or 11 some mornings. And I'm continually so grateful for the ongoing support, concern and love of our family, dear friends and wondful faith community. 

So I return to what I love best. Sheep are a constant with me and these Irish free grazers take on unique perspectives depending on the flow of the watercolor paint, pigment hues and the fusing between the brush and the paper. These two lilties, 4” x 6” watercolor paintings are titled Heather Haze and The Golden Hour. 

 

Moor Springtime

One of my favorite memories will always be of glimpsing sheep roaming the hills, moors, beaches and roadways throughout the western coastal counties of Ireland. It’s been a few years since we’ve been able to travel there, but in my mind’s eye, I can still see these free-grazers standing their ground or running with their specific “gang.” And no place was sacred – they easily navigated church cemeteries as well marched confidently down the main streets of small villages.

This week’s painting is another Liltie – Moor Springtime, 4” x 6” (framed with double matte is 8” x 10”) captures a mama ewe and her lamb high on the Irish moorland.

Coneflowers

I'm working to prepare a delivery of paintings for later in April to the Plum Bottom Gallery in Door County, WI. It’s been a busy winter for the galleries and I’m planning to have 13 to 15 new watercolors ready for this delivery. It’s always fun to take the roadtrip to one of the prettiest spots in Wisconsin and a delight to meet with the team in the galleries at Egg Harbor (farm location), Egg Harbor-Main Street, Fish Creek and now in Sturgeon Bay!

This week’s focus is on painting Lilties – and Summer Sunshine, 4” x 6” watercolor, is a favorite close-up of beautiful Coneflower blossoms.

Back to the Lilties: Flying Free

It’s March, and we are already experiencing the wild ride of this month! Last week, we had a few days of gloriously warm spring weather, followed by two days of blizzard conditions with 12” of heavy snow, and then today, it’s warm spring weather with snow melting off the roof. And so it begins . . . the wide fluctuations of temps, the start of Lent this week, Daylight Savings Time returning on Sunday . . , and slowly, but surely we are on the march into Spring.

And it’s the time of spring activities for the grands – High School plays (Music Man and Buckshot and Blossoms), baseball season for four families, and the football season for our Arizona clan. We are so looking forward to enjoying this season!

This week’s painting is a Liltie (4” x 6” on 300 lb. watercolor paper), and Flying Free is another study of the patterns of birds in this area. It is a such an incredible sight and a cacophony of sounds as the birds rise up off the lakes and ponds and take flight. We are blessed to be surrounded by nature and I’m so grateful for all of it!