new peony

new watercolor of a tree peony

8" x 10" print in the shop

I love painting all those petals!

this peony

This peony is the very first one I ever painted....

way back when I decided that I had to start painting.

I remember painting it from a photograph,

while we were on vacation at the shore....

sitting at a little kitchen table very early each morning, 

before my family woke up.  

Isn't it funny how strong some memories can be?

I can distinctly remember the morning light, the quiet of the house,

and...most of all...

the feeling that I had finally painted a painting.

I signed up for my very first workshop with Arleta Pech.

I had her book and admired her work so much.

We needed to bring a painting for the critique on the last day of the workshop.

I was so nervous!  I can still remember that feeling.

I brought my little peony.

I was so intimidated that I almost didn't put my painting in the critique.

When it was my turn, Arleta said

"This peony.  This peony is soft, delicate and beautiful."

She told me to trust myself and trust my style.

I remember driving home that day, practically floating on air.

..and in my journal I wrote

"I am an artist".

Thanks for visiting today.

Please visit Mary's Little Red House

for more Mosaic Monday!

the simple things

One of my favorite & most peaceful blogs to visit is Soul Aperture.
Christina writes the most beautiful words and just fills my heart
whenever I stop to visit.

Today, Christina is hosting "the simple things", inviting us to list
the little things we appreciate in our lives.
For every blog that participates, Christina & her family will generously
donate one dollar to Doctors Without Borders (max $250).

My Simple Things

looking at little cat faces
silky fur on my sweet Jack
pink toes on my sweet Buster
~
seeing the sunshine falling across my table
having a long quiet time with a cup of tea
watching birds at the feeder
~
reading a beautifully written book
reading a kind, thoughtful email
soaking in a warm bath
~
having a vase of flowers..real flowers
hearing the school bus go by (while I'm still in bed)
the quiet light early in the morning (when I get up before that bus rolls by)
~
peonies
irises
standing in a drizzly French garden with my daughter
~
opening a paintbox
dipping a brush into color
getting lost in a painting
~
movie popcorn
being with a good friend I've known forever
meeting new friends I'll never meet in person
~
talking about the day with my son
chocolate
blue and white anything
~
big snowflakes
soft rain
moonlight
~
seashells
sound of the waves
seahorses
~
the soft patina of vintage silver
hydrangeas
~
unexpected kindness
unexpected smiles


Wishing you a lovely day.