...seen or unseen, they are always near

Recently, I learned that a dear friend lost his angel mother to death.  Over the past few years I watched as he took her into his own home because of her increasing struggles with dementia.  He and his wife tended to her needs, despite having young children with very large needs of their own.  They treated her with kindness and compassion, and served as a great example to me of what it means to "Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother."

When I learned of her passing, I contemplated the happiness that has come into my life knowing that my own Father, who I lost a number of years ago to cancer, still is an active, engaged participant in my life, but from a different part of the "vineyard."

A wise and trusted teacher once stated, "From the beginning down through the dispensations, God has used angels...in conveying love and concern for His children.  ...Seen or unseen they are always near." --Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

I believe that those that we loved in this life, that have passed on, are given opportunities to watch over us, when needed, and assist us through the challenges we face, just as they did while in this life, and that we, if we desire, will be given opportunities to do so now, and after we pass.

So, today, I painted this envelope for my friend, and sent a little letter thanking him for his example, and giving my assurance of the proximity of loved ones that go unseen.

Done in gouache and acrylic.

Olive Branch

This past week, I listened to a person in our neighborhood recount her experience of working through pain pill addiction after complications that she faced with the birth of her youngest child.  The sincere way that she spoke about her challenge, the learning experience that was long, but instructive, and how she finally was able to get to a point where she humbled herself enough to recognize how badly she needed help was extremely impactful to me.  I was so impressed with her courage to share how she turned to a strength greater than her own, and only then began to find the power to face her difficulty, and to begin the process of overcoming.  The account that she gave of the reality of a more divine assistance available to us as we humbly seek it out, was refreshing and served as a reminder to me that we need not carry our burdens alone.
The envelope that I painted this week went out to her.  I painted the olive branch, because of the symbol that it represents.  In this life we seem to be at war with so many things.  Sometimes it is a war with self, or our neighbor, or family, as we battle to survive through our numerous challenges.  But there is a peace available, offered to us through meeker submissiveness to a power higher than our own.  There is an "olive branch" that is available for every person that is "warring" with this or that challenge.
I need to be reminded of that more frequently. 
This went out anonymously to her recently with an enclosed note thanking her for her courage and counsel.

Painted with gouache, acrylic and pen and ink.

Happy Holidays

This month has been frantic, and I have not made the time to do some of the traditional paintings that I do each year.  However, I did find the time last night to do an envelope for a young man who just recently gave up a year of his life, under extremely trying medical challenges, serving the people in South America.  I saw him shortly after he came home and he seemed a little down for not being able to stay even longer in his service.  In my eyes, however, I felt that he was very noble for sticking with it for so long, and putting people above his own condition.
I painted this little holiday envelope for him and thanked him for his service.

This is done in gouache, an acrylic background and a bit of pen and ink.

I hope that everyone has a great holiday this year.  Find someone to serve and make their day a little brighter!

Returning Home

It has been over a month since I posted an envelope.  Unfortunately, I've been down with the flu and really didn't have much of a desire to do anything.  Thankfully, that is subsiding, and the desire to pick up the paintbrush returned last night.  While I was sick, I had a lot of time to ponder about the envelope project that I have undertaken.  I've decided, from this point on, that the letters and envelopes that I send out will be anonymous, and, for the most part, I'll send them to folks that have no clue that this blog exists.  There is something, in my opinion, a little more noble, a little less artist-centered, (something I need) by sending a gift with no expectation of thanks or reward.  I'm hoping that the motivation to do such a thing will be more receiver focused, hoping that the small letter and gift will be to warm their heart and not my ego.  Anyway, that's the plan, at least.  We'll see how it goes.  

Last night I returned to the turtle.  When I was living in Georgia, I took my son to a science camp on  Jekyll Island and stayed for a few days.  We studied sea turtles at length and I was amazed at their challenges, and their amazing qualities.  I fell in love with the loggerhead and the beautiful patterns of the shells and skin.  One interesting fact about sea turtles is that no matter how far away they swim (some going over 1000 miles) they always come back to the exact same beach and location of where they were hatched.  I love that fact.  There is something innate in some beings, including humans, for a desire to come home, to return to where things began.  

This letter is going out to a person who has a true sense of home, who has dedicated their time and effort to ennoble the family and it's importance in their life, despite not seeming to have accomplished much in the eyes of the "world."  In her late 80's, and after losing a husband within the past few years to death, she has been courageous and continues to make exemplary choices to preserve her family and the relationships therein.  I'm humbled by her good example.  This one is going out to her.

Digital Doodle

Today, I had the chance to take my son to one of his multiple and varied soccer games and sit with the other parents watching their children play.  I will confess, however, that there was this beautiful little tree, in front of my car that seemed to be begging me for a sketch.  So, I decided to try my first digital drawing, using my iPad Pro and the Procreate app.  I kept one eye on the game, and the other on the treee.  I’m not convinced that I’ve got what it takes to do things digitally, but it was fun playing aound with the strokes.  What was equally interesting is being able to watch the videos that the application automatically makes as you create your little doodle.  I’ve included it here as well.

The end of the game came so fast that I was unable to add much foliage, but I enjoyed playing around with the texture of the bark and the undulating branches.  While I am not yet the master cross-hatcher, like my friend France Van Stone, I love a good doodle with layering lines.

Smitty's Golden Fish

Back in March, I had the chance to visit some people that I have grown to love, in a city that I miss...Rome, Georgia.  There is an older gentleman that lives there who is "one in a million."  I'm not sure I've met anyone as humble, as positive, and as optimistic as he is.  He never speaks ill others, and is the quiet champion of those who need a helpful hand, a friend, or a warm embrace.  His name is James, but everyone knows him as SMITTY.  Sadly, I heard recently that his son, who was instrumental in watching over Smitty, passed away.
There are a lot of great people in the world, and then there are the gems, the people that are just golden, through and through.  I've found that there is a pattern with these amazing people...they become who they are because of the way that they choose to handle very difficult circumstances.  They let the hard times spur them to eagerly seek out those who are downtrodden and they quietly, yet sensitively tend to their needs.

I consider Smitty to be one of the GOLDEN ones. This week's letter and envelope go out to him. I painted a "Golden" fish on his envelope, to let him know that I see him as brilliant and amazing.
Here's how it came out.

Here's a picture of Smitty and I during our last visit.  This is what it feels like to be in the presence of true goodness.

New Week, New Envelopes

I skipped a week in doing any type of artwork, and I have missed posting.  This weekend, however, I "caught up" on my goal of doing an envelope and a friendly letter to somebody weekly.  Both of the doodles this week go to people at work.

A couple of days ago, I witnessed the very sad occasion of a co-worker being informed that her father had just passed away, and that he was in a different country.  She is relatively young still, and I was heart broken to see her sadness.  I chose to include in her condolence letter the same poem that I sent to a previous recipient, about the ship and how it relates to dying.  Consequently, I felt it was appropriate to do a little painting of an old fashioned clipper, a sea ship.  This was done in gouache and I enjoyed playing with the blues and yellows.  Here is how it came out:

The second envelope that I completed this week was also for a co-worker.  This gentleman has been working at the location that I manager for over 40 years.  I think it was difficult for him to make the decision to move to the next chapter of his life, as I'm sure it is with anyone who has really dedicated him or herself to an industry for such a long time.  I chose to sketch a picture of a bird, ready to fly off to a higher perch, since I'm secretly a little jealous that he is at a point that he can step away from it, to find freedom with his family in this new part of his life.  I've still got a number of years before being able to reach such a stage, but I'm hoping to keep my wings ready for flight, for when the opportunity presents itself...

This also was done in gouache: