Let's All Celebrate

                                                         Mixed Media with collage

When I was 8 years old, I came home from school and confessed to my mother that I had lied to my friends. She said, "Oh Cissy, what did you lie about?". I replied, "your age". All my friend's mothers were much younger and I was embarrassed. My mother was 38!!!!!!

Well, today I turned 50 and I can't imagine what my children think about a mother who is half a century old. Grace, my 14 yr old told me last week that I use to be cool, but not any more. Actually, she doesn't know how cool I really am!!!

My wonderful friends gave me a party this past weekend. I felt so blessed to be surrounded by so many people I love and care about. God has been so faithful since I've returned home to Mississippi, restoring old friendships and bringing new people into my life. I am indeed a very happy, fortunate 50 year old!!

My Children's Art

                                                                    Grace 2nd Grade

                                                                 Dixon 9th Grade

                                                             Gwynn 3rd Grade


This weekend, both Grace and Dixon were into painting.  Grace was painting an Audrey Hepburn face for her room, while Dixon has decided that he wants to try to sell some art to make money for college.  I love it when they are creative, and spend time in my studio instead of watching TV.  All three of my children are very artistic.  When they were young, I home schooled them for 9 years and art was a big part of their lives.  Every year, Tim Miller, a local business man and frame shop/gallery owner would have a competition for all the public schools in the Boone and Blowing Rock, NC area.  He allowed the home school students to be involved.  Through the years, each of my children won first place for their age group.  He would then generously frame the winner's work for them to have.  Grace's "Matisse" and Gwynn's "Van Gogh" both were winners.  Of course being their mother, I think they are outstanding for their ages.  Dixon's was done later, when he went to "real school".    I think it is also very creative and I have it on my studio wall.

Thank you for letting me share their work.  Maybe, I'll post Grace's Audrey soon.

Another Day In New York

                                                                             30 x 48

                                                                                Sold

Goodness! It's been a week since I last posted. It's not that I haven't been painting. Actually, I've simultaneously been working on three different ones, but none are ready to post, so I'm showing you another cityscape that is at VIEW GALLERY.

As I was driving home from taking my daughter to school, I was thinking about what I wanted to talk about today, but once again, I sounded like such a Debbie Downer. I wish I had something happy and fun to share with you, but things have kind of been the same around here. Either the children are fighting, someone is heartbroken, or Dixon always reminding me that it's OK, and that he loves me. You know, the typical teenager stuff. I wish I was always positive on my blog like my friend Ruthie. So, if you want to visit an uplifting, fun site, you need to follow ruthiecarlson.blogspot.com. Ruthie is a wonderful artist from Alabama. I especially like her latest mixed media piece. Her outlook on life really reflects in her work.

This, then led me to think about how my friend Phyllis described me weeks ago. She said "you are just kind of melancholy". I thought "great, just what I want to be known as, an Eeyore". So, I didn't talk to her for a while!!! No, not really. We were on a trip together, and I just laugh about it, and thought, "well, my nickname my friends gave me in Italy last year was Lolita". I know you are wondering why Lolita. All I can say is the over used saying "what happens in Italy, stays in Italy!!!". (Now, if it was really that bad, would I be sharing it on my blog for my my husband and mother to read?) So, if I had to pick between an Eeyore personality or a Lolita one, I think I would pick Lolita. A rated PG Lolita, of course!

Hold On

                                                                           30 x 48

                                                                        Mix Media
                                                                             Sold

                        

Everybody has their pain and heartache. Some are just more transparent than others. I use to look at people and think their lives looked perfect, but now I know that no one escapes it. Some are just better at hiding it, but they too have their private sorrow. Pain touches everyone.

This week, individuals that I care for, as well as many in my community have been hurt and suffered much heartache. I have felt an overwhelming sense of sorrow for them, knowing that they are dealing not only with this painful situation, but also their feelings of disbelief, betrayal, anger, despair and so many other emotions. I wished I had some great words of comfort to give them, but I can only share what I know from my own experience. In my darkest days, when things seemed so out of control and my mind so scattered, the one thing I could read was the words found in Isaiah 43. “Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end. Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior.” Those were the words I held on to, and the words I encourage anyone that is reading this to believe. We are not alone in our pain. There is someone to help bear our burdens. He is the only thing I know to truely hold on to.

Determination

                                                                "Girl On A Mission"

                                                                         9 x 12
                                                                          Sold

How many of us have a child that has the determination and the drive to get something done once they set their mind to it? That would be my daughter Grace. She will stay up until 1:00 am trying to perfect an art project for school, or finish a painting for a friend. If challenged to make straight A's, she'll put up signs in her room to remind herself of this goal, especially if there is an award in the end.

My hope is that as she matures, this determination will play a role in helping her make the right choices and decisions that she will face as a teenager, and also later in life. Isn't that the prayer of all of us parents? My job as her mother is to encourage those positive traits and to hold myself to a certain standard of behavior that she might one day want to emulate. That's not always easy. It's a challenge every day.

Honesty

I have two things I want to talk about today. First being my friend Leslie Saeta. I had the pleasure of taking an oil painting class from Leslie and Dreama Tolle Perry this winter. It was a wonderful, fun experience. This painting today is a "Leslie style". Her favorite subjects are boats, and she only uses a palette knife. You can find Leslie's work at www.saetastudio.com.

The other thing I want to talk about is honesty. That's the word that I've been struggling with this week. After reading my blog, a couple of people were either upset over my openness, or made the comment that maybe I should not be so transparent and leave certain subjects alone and untalked about. My first reaction was "well, I'll never blog again because I can't not be honest about what I am feeling". For so many years, I lived a life of dishonesty and kept my true feelings buried and I simply will not or can not do that any more. Being able to share certain experiences and life lessons has been very healing for me. The last thing I want to do is hurt someone with what I talk about. So, to the few people that have read my blog, and have encouraged me, thank you. And if any of you have a comment or suggestion on this subject, I would appreciate it, because I'm still unsettled with it.

Sisters

Yes, I know. This is totally out of character for me, and I know it is far from being a great piece of art. It is just a product of playing around while a large canvas I'm working on was drying. Considering the fact that yesterday was the first time I picked up a paintbrush in days, and I've run out of things to post, this was the lucky one. This is it's shinning moment. Unfortunately, I think it is destined to the "Harry Potter" closet under the stairs.

I have two older sisters, and unlike this painting, I doubt we ever held hands in the ocean. I doubt we ever held hands ever. There is a seven year difference between the oldest and myself, and we really didn't become friends until I was much older. Mary Alice, my other sister and I shared a room, therefore we spent much more time together, but we were as opposite as night and day. We still are today. Although the three of us are much closer today, I must admit, sometimes I look at my siblings ( I also have a brother), and say "Where did I come from. We are not of the same DNA.". We resemble each other, yes, but our personalities, priorities, and thought processes are so different. However, one thing we do have in common, is that all three, at different times in our lives, have been knocked to our knees, and the only place we could look was up. Each of us finding a strength within ourselves that we didn't know was there. We found this strength in the only one that could help us through these times, Our Lord and Savior. Only by relying on Him, did we find the strength to wake up each morning and face the day. Because of this, I believe all three of us have come out much stronger, and better individuals.

I didn't have the three of us in mind when I painted this yesterday. It was actually just three friends. But if we are blessed, each of us have two other individuals in our lives that we can call "sisters". I know I do. Both my real sisters, and the others I love. I am indeed truly blessed.

Just Because

                                                                      30 x30

                                                                      (Sold)

I'm a huge Atlas Shrugged fan. It's one of my favorite books. Our economic situation today is eerily accurate to what Ayn Rand wrote in this book. Although you really can't see it, a line and a few names from the book are incorporated into this painting.

On a different note, I just got home from picking up the girls at camp. I am so proud of their accomplishments and participation this year. My years of being creative with my children, and making them think outside the box, seemed to have paid off. Gwynn came home with not only a blue ribbon for a painting she entered into the craft fair, but she also won Best in Show for a photograph she took. Grace's talent was made to use by drawing all the backdrops for her tribes' play. A couple were so good, the owners asked if they could keep them. Needless to say, I am very proud of them. After shedding many tears from leaving their friends, and lots of hugs and claims of missing me, it only took 7 hours for things to get back to normal. By the time we hit Rankin County, one county before mine, the "honeymoon"was over. I was back to being the embarrassing mom that I am. I'm glad they are home though. I love my children, so thanks for letting me brag.

Highway 59

                                                                          48 x 60

                                                                           (Sold)

I can't believe it's already August. Where did July go? Where did the summer break go? The girls come home in two day, then all three children start school a week after that. When I was young,  school didn't start back until after Labor Day.

I laid in bed this morning not wanting to get up because I stayed up way too late last night. I was reflecting on this past month and was glad it was over, but more importantly, I was thankful for what I learned from it. There were definitely some good times in July. I loved spending quality time with my son Dixon with out the constant drama of the girls. I made a very quick trip to Florida with two wonderful friends, and I sold several paintings. This one included. However, there were also a lot of disappointments, low days, and past regrets. But because of those days, I was able to get focused again on what is really important.

Somewhere down the road, I got off track and started seeing my self-worth through the eyes of others.  Their opinion and relationship to me meant way too much in how I viewed myself, my personality, my art, etc.  It took a hard situation for me to see that my believing was off.  I will never find true self worth in another person's opinion or in material things, but only in my Heavenly Father.  Only in Him am I really complete, and my job is just to keep my focus on that and do what is right in His eyes.  It was amazing how my outlook changed and I could even say I was thankful for the days that were difficult in the month of July.