Papaw & His Boy

Papaw...
     Pepaw...
         Papa...
              Pop...
Grandpa...
     Granddad...
          Gumpy...
               Gramps...
Opa...
     Baba...
          Big Paw...
               Sir...

Feed Papaw's cows apples!
Count Pepaw's sheep!
Go fishing with Papa!
Build something with Pop!

Read a book with Grandpa!
Watch tv with Granddad!
Help Gumpy make breakfast!
Sit on the swing with Gramps!

Play catch with Opa!
Go to church with Baba!
Drive Big Paw's tractor!
Take a nap beside Sir!

Pretty special relationships...

Original Oil Painting on 18"x 26" Museum Wrapped Canvas
[SOLD]

Golden Sunset

I'm honored and humbled whenever someone asks me to paint for them.  At some point I always want to know, "Why?" or "What's special about this image?" or "What's the story behind it?"

Earlier this year I painted this image and told my story of watching the sun set on a beach in Indonesia.  You can read about that here.

Recently I got a note from someone saying that they loved the picture but wondered if I could paint it again... only much bigger.
What a pleasure!
Of course I had to ask why.  
I found out that their baby girl will be born next month, and the meaning of the name they'll give her will be Golden Sunset! 
Ahhhh.... sigh... I loved knowing that as I painted.
And, my painting will hang in her room!  Like I said at the beginning, I am honored and humbled!

I know what her name will mean, but I am anxious to know exactly what her name will be! 

Original Oil Painting on 24"x 36" Wrapped Canvas
[SOLD]

A Painting Party!

Would you just look at these beautiful ladies and their fantastic paintings!

I think they're pretty proud of their art!

These ladies are part of the college group in our church, and their teachers asked me if I'd lead a painting project for their girls' night out.

What a pleasure to get to know them!

What a fun evening!

Judging from their happy smiles and their finished art, I'm calling it a successful event!

We hope you'll join us!

She Twirls

My dad turned 92 last month.

We reserved the activity room in his retirement center, and my siblings who live near joined him for dinner.  Afterwards the grandkids and great grandkids who live near showed up for cake, ice cream, and fun.  

One came straight from his guitar lesson and played Grandpa a song.  Another came from his piano lesson and played his song for Grandpa. Then we went out to the courtyard where the little ones ran around... except for one... 
              She twirled...

Original Oil Painting on 16"x 16" Wrapped Canvas
[GIFT]

Sea Strong... She Strong...

When the sun rises in the morning, 
     I will be ready to give my all!
          I am strong!
          I have confidence!
          I am proud of my efforts!
          I feel important!
          I can do great things!
          I know who I am!
          I am glad that I'm me!
          I will make a difference!
When the sun sets at night, 
     I will know I've done my best!

Original Oil Painting on 12"x 16" Wrapped Canvas
[SOLD]

Splash of Lime II

A bunch of limes slices...
What can I say about limes?
As it turns out, I think I can say a lot about them.

I do not remember ever having a lime as a kid.  I don't remember my mom ever buying one or having one in the house.  We were pretty much an apple-orange-banana family. Honestly, I don't even remember seeing limes in the grocery store when I was little.

I remember the first time I fell in love with limes.  (Surely, it wasn't the first time I'd ever tasted one, but maybe.) Ron and I were at a Christmas party with people he worked with. (Yeah, that means I was an adult! And, it was at his current company, so that means I was at least in my thirties.)  The lady hosting the party was from Mexico, and the food was Mexican.  I remember there was a bowl of lime wedges on each table.  I asked what they were for.  She said, "Squeeze them on your food... on everything!"  I thought that was weird, but I did it... and LOVED IT!!!
Yep...
Just a little splash of lime on everything...
Changed my life!

Well, "everything" meant anytime I had Mexican food... until a few years later. At a family reunion, my nephew made corn on the cob.  Sounds pretty normal, right?  But... instead of butter and salt... he'd used cayenne pepper and lime juice!  What?  Why?  But, you guessed it... LOVED IT!

But wait!
There's more!
When I was in Indonesia this spring, they put a lime slice with everything too.  We had rice at every single meal, and beside that rice was what? A slice of lime.  Who squeezes lime over rice?  Well, Indonesians do, and now so do I... LOVED IT 
They also served a lot of watermelon there; a thin slice or two was kind of like the dessert at the end of the meals.  (Seeing them whole at the markets, they weren't the big long ones like we have, but little round ones.)  And on each watermelon slice was a little lime slice? Who'd ever think about squeezing lime on watermelon? I guess Indonesians thought of it. Mmmmmm.... So good. LOVED IT!

I don't drink. (Okay, full disclosure... tried it... twice... was not at all pleased with myself either time... decided that was enough of that. I have enough trouble behaving myself with just plain Coke!) Anyway, I don't drink, but if I did, I'm pretty sure my favorite would be a margarita... I think that's made with lime... wait let me Google that... ... ... yeah... a margarita would be my drink! 

I'm chuckling at myself for having so much to say about such a simple little thing and wondering which section I should scroll up and delete. Nah... I like them all.
Such a simple little painting, but I love it.  I rarely paint with so much blue, but it seemed right for the background of this one.

An Indonesian market -
You can see the limes in the front
and the little round watermelons at the back.

A different Indonesian market -
Same set up though.
Lots of limes for sale.

Original oil painting on 12"x 6" wrapped canvas.
Click "Splash of Lime II" to purchase this little painting.

Floating Down the Buffalo River

The Buffalo River is a place that people from Northwest Arkansas are very proud of.  Lots of people go "float the Buffalo" on weekends.

Ron & Andrew 10-11 years ago.

It's easy to see why this river is so loved.

When my friend asked me to paint his favorite spot, the Buffalo River, he gave me four photos to choose from.  After I finished the big 24"x 48" painting, I went ahead and painted one of the other choices.  It's not nearly as big, but I think it's lovely.  

Original Oil Painting on 12"x 24" Wrapped Canvas
[SOLD]

Buffalo River

"America's First National River: Established in 1972, Buffalo National River flows freely for 135 miles and is one of the few remaining undammed rivers in the lower 48 states. Once you arrive, prepare to journey from running rapids to quiet pools while surrounded by massive bluffs as you cruise through the Ozark Mountains down to the White River." Those are the words from the National Park Service.

"This is my happy place, the place I love to be." Those are the words my friend used when he showed me the image on his phone and told me he wanted me to paint it.

This gives you a little perspective about its size.

Original Oil Painting on 24"x 48" Wrapped Canvas
[SOLD]