The Beauty of Spring & Return to Painting

The bird shown is a newcomer to our backyard as springtime arrived. I put out our hummingbird feeders the beginning of April and we have already had one early arrival feeding from them.


The last month I had a resurgence of interest in my family genealogy.  I have found over years of being the family genealogist that when the urge to research and update my family history emerges I have to go with it because the intensity it takes to do the work and quick burnout that sometimes happens can be all consuming.  Thankfully I had done most of the work years ago (I started in 1981) and this was fairly short lived though very fulfilling and productive.

Here is a photo of the finished 11"x15" acrylic painting inspired by Wes and Maura Studi of Santa Fe, New Mexico.  My husband and I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Studi at the grand opening of Buffalo Thunder Resort just north of Santa Fe a few years ago. Although portraiture is not my specialty I enjoyed trying to convey the great love evident through the painting and symbolism in items in the background. The background includes an eagle in flight symbolic of Mr. Studi's release of an eagle over the gorge near Taos, New Mexico last year at the celebration of preservation of the area and becoming a national treasure. After mounting, matting and framing it I hope to be able to present it to them with much respect for their commitment to the arts, cultural history, family and New Mexico.

Lastly, this morning as I looked at the blank canvas of a 16"x20" gessoed masonite board I painted this original acrylic painting I'm calling "Godly Brilliance".

I look forward to an amazing spring and summer this year, due to rain and God's abundant blessings.  Stay tuned, I expect to be very busy this year and posting new artworks and pleasures.