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 I’ve found my passion. 

 And I have to thank my friend Sue Whitten. Sue invited me to be in a benefit art show a few months ago. The theme of the show was “A Hand Up” and the artists were asked to create a painting on an 8x8 canvas, incorporating a hand into the design. We were also asked to write a few paragraphs about how art had given us a “hand up” in our lives.

 An interesting thing happened. By writing about how art touched me at the deepest level after the tragic death of my son-in-law, Bryan, I understood the direction my paintings took in the months following his death were a clear marker toward the artistic path my heart wanted to follow. Then two other things happened. At the show opening, Sue’s daughter, who is a gifted palm reader (I know, sounds weird, but trust me on this!) read my palm and, among other things, told me that my writing would be an important piece to the puzzle of my art. That same evening, a woman purchased my painting because the words I had written had touched her heart.

Writing is not a new thing for me. I have written poetry since I can remember. In fact, poetry and journaling have always been outlets for me when I’m going through transitions in my life. When Bryan died I was unable to write and unable to paint the more realistic landscapes that I’d been painting. So I began just letting the canvas and paint dictate what I would paint. Just gesture drawings with no idea of what they would be – if anything. A strange thing happened – all the lines and swirls and rubbed off paint eventually took the shape of a horse, running, leaping, bucking, rearing. A horse free to just be a horse. And not a realistically rendered horse, but the very spirit of the horse.

So I painted that way for months – many of the paintings in my “Horse” series were created in that time frame. As time went by though, I felt that I needed to get back to landscapes (which, by the way, I enjoy painting). Part of that decision was based on my thought that my skies and barns were what I was known for. I didn’t want to confuse my collectors. I was confused myself.

But again, life can be serendipitous. While I was painting barns and landscapes for my galleries, I was creating paintings for myself that are based on words that I’ve read or words that I’ve written. Using the horse as a visual metaphor, I’m painting straight from my heart, following my muse down twisting mountain roads and across vast prairies, over oceans and into the sky.   And the serendipitous part? My friend Robin gave me a book called Notes From the Universe by Mike Dooley for my birthday (#50!!). My painting “Healing Path” was sold to a woman who loves the painting – but it was the written story of the symbolism in the painting that made her know that this painting was meant to be in her life (thank you Paula!).

And then a third thing happened. After writing about giving to give, after accepting my muse and agreeing to follow, I found out about Colorado Thoroughbred Rescue which is located in Wellington, Colorado. A young couple, Pete and Margaret, have given everything they have to give a second chance to Thoroughbred horses bound for slaughter. Although thoroughbreds are their main focus, they have also rescued ponies and other horses in dire straits. It all came together for me that I am supposed to help this couple carry out their mission. Beginning now, 10% of all my art sales will go to the CTR. It’s my way of giving back to the universe in a very real way. I also encourage you to go to their web site and see the work they are doing. 

I finished two paintings this week. “All Roads Lead to the Truth” explores how not only different people see the same thing and interpret it differently, but even within one’s self we can choose how we perceive life. The second painting, “The Universe is Infinite,” is again about choices, and is a meditation on living life firmly planted in what we have determined is “reality” while dreaming of another existence that holds all the potentials of the Universe. Which is real, and which is a dream?