A Visit From Mom and Inspiration Runneth Over...

I've been so busy these last few weeks that I barely have time to tell you about MommaBean's visit last month before she arrives today for another visit. Sheesh, time sure does fly.

Last month MommaBean got to come and visit us for a WHOLE WEEK! A full week with nothing to do but sit, relax and just be with each other. No rushing around, no big sightseeing trips etc. just relaxing and creating.

Bear and Momma Bean!

I mean look at those smiling faces. Who wouldn't love them to bits?

When MommaBean comes you know what that means don't you? It means 2 things...

Eating great food...

and Art!! Lots of ART!

This is what my studio looks like when you put two painters together and someone calls out

"Ready, Set, PAINT"

My mother can inspire anyone to do anything just by being her. She is a Muse.

She inspired me to paint something I had been thinking about for some time but I wasn't sure how to go about it.

You may remember this photo from my Ireland trip a couple years ago.

Click here to see my post about Poulnabrone. (scroll down to the end of that post)

Below is the photo that I wanted to use but I wanted to paint it to show how I felt at the time, not just paint what it actually looked like. Does that make sense?

With my mother behind me all the way encouraging me and giving me a suggestion when ever I got stuck, this is it. I LOVE it!

I am so in love with this painting. I can't tell you how good it felt to finish this and have it turn out just how I wanted it to. My mother is a Muse among Muses!

Here she is actual size.

I can't wait to see what kinds of fun fantastic creative things we get up to this time.

All I know is, it's gonna be a blast!

A is for Amaryllis...

I've never had a green thumb. I don't know what it is, it just doesn't come natural to me. I'm better off with an animal, a creature that can more easily communicate to me it's needs and wants. I speak dog, not plant.

Upon moving in here last November our friend Leah gave us an Amaryllis bulb as a "welcome back to the neighborhood" gift. I knew it would be beautiful, if I could manage to not only keep it alive but help it thrive. I did some research and found a great Amaryllis Site that showed me step by step what I needed to do. It was a great site because, well see the result for yourself...

I had patiently watched and waited as it grew. Some days it grew so fast I thought for sure I could actually watch it. I mean that stalk actually grew 6" one day! Incredible. When the day finally came when she started to bloom I could barely contain my joy. She was way more beautiful than any flower I have ever known.

Nature simply takes my breath away.

Sadly I knew her beauty wouldn't last forever so I moved her into my studio to capture her beauty on canvas. My mother-in-law's birthday was just around the corner and I knew she would love to have her likeness to put on her little collectibles shelf.

Beautiful large or small.

When it's just too beautiful not to share, paint it!