Charles and Elaine

This is basically a love story about a couple who had been married for almost sixty years and still took care of each other and were devoted to each other. I was happy that John and Marion were willing to pose for me. I didn't make them get in a pool--we got around that by having them wear T-shirts and hide behind a kitchen bar. They were so sweet to rearrange their day, their furniture, dishes, and clothes for me. While I photographed them, they told me about their wedding day nearly seventy years ago! Thank you for the great visit, John and Marion.

Unspoken Prayers

This piece was a challenge--it was to show three different people who wanted something in life but were denied their wish, only to be rewarded with something better that they didn't expect. The first is a young man who didn't make the high school football team, but grew up to become a successful author. The second is a woman who didn't win the election, only to become a big humanitarian aid worker and helped thousands in need. The third is a man who didn't get the job he wanted, only to become fulfilled and successful in a different career. I decided on charcoal, and the original piece is 48" long! Thanks to Elaine Glenn and Nick, Lacie and Blake Pearson for modeling for me!

Wheelchair

The story here was about Don ____ who saw a woman crawling across a street like a snake when he visited a third-world country. It bothered him, and he pondered it, wondering why someone couldn't just build cheap wheelchairs for people who couldn't buy them. Eventually he invented them! He made a nonprofit foundation and gives them out to those who can't walk and can't afford a wheelchair. The first one he gave away was to a boy in India, whose mother said, "Thank you for this chariot." My favorite quote is from this episode: "It is not enough to be happy in life. We should be useful."