Turning Points

I was so grateful to the King family for allowing me to photograph them for this painting. The Spoken Word message talked about a man who had been diagnosed with a grave illness, but it became a turning point in his life for the good, and how he learned to cope by relying on his faith, his friends, and his family. Matt King was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer a few months ago, and has a very poor prognosis. Yet, his family has grown closer, and I felt such a spirit of peace and acceptance when I entered their home. They all know their father probably won't be with them much longer, but they know where he's going, and that he'll be waiting for them to return and be with him. And I believe they also feel that they'll be okay without him for a while, as they stay here on earth. My yoga teacher told me the other day that her brother was best friends with Matt King before he died in a car crash five years ago. When she learned of Matt's terminal illness, she cried and asked him how he was doing. "I'm doing fine, really. I'm looking forward to hanging out with your brother again!"

I was grateful I had the opportunity to paint the family all together, while there was still an opportunity in this mortal life.

The Bridge Builder

This is a portrait of Will Allen Dromgoole. Yes, she is a woman. She wrote a poem called "The Bridge Builder" which reminds us of our responsibilities to younger generations.

Poppies!

This piece always reminds me of the Wizard of Oz--"Poppies! Millions of poppies!" Thanks to the Lott family for finding time in their schedule to model while climbing the Reher's front yard hill. It wasn't covered with poppies, but that's why I'm a painter, not a photographer. Can you see the tiny butterfly Lacie is pointing at?

Our Nation's Heroes

This painting was featured on the Memorial Day broadcast. This WWI flying ace is David Endecott Putnam, a youth who became one of the most successful plane fighters of the war. He has been remembered in letters he sent home to his mother, which were always upbeat and encouraging. He stated that if he were to die, he'd be called home happily when it was his time. His time came before the end of the war, when he was in the process of rescuing another American fighter plane. I was glad I was able to find a picture of him smiling.

"I Know My Father Lives"

Reid Nibley struggled as he wrote the song, "I Know My Father Lives." He kept trying to complicate and embellish the piece. I had similar trouble with this piece. I drew it from several different views of Bro. Nibley, with varying backgrounds, and I just kept getting more and more frustrated, until I literally screamed! It just wasn't working! It was only when I erased it all and went to the simplest way--taking a picture of my husband sitting at the piano, then varying the facial features slightly to resemble Reid Nibley--that it worked out at all. I kept the background so simple that it was unnecessary to include in this print. Ironically, that's the same thing that happened with the song. Once Reid erased all the extra notes, it came out in its true form, which was the simple way we sing it today.