Another Amish Pastel Painting, Rebekah In The Barn

Wow!  I can’t believe I have finally finished this painting.  This took me some time as I was at first busy with painting some rooms in my house, and then a graduation came and went, and the painting just sat against my desk half done.  I hate doing that, too.  Starting a painting and then not finishing it, only because it breaks up the creative flow you had when you first started.  It’s more difficult to get back into it again,and I think every time I saw the painting there waiting…I was almost afraid to start in on it again. So one day I just said to myself I wasn’t going to start another project until I finished this, and I kept at it until I felt I was finished.  It’s funny, you never really feel like it’s perfect, you just know there is nothing more you could add or take away that will make any more of a difference. At least for me…I always think it could have turned out better doing this or that. But I guess that’s all about the learning process…and then you start another one and say this will be better than the last. I do like the way this one turned out though.  I just love her face and peaceful expression, and that’s the thing that I always try to attain. I hope you like Rebekah In The Barn. It sure took some time for her to arrive! And now…onto the next one…whew…:) If you are interested, this will also be available on Etsy soon.

Rebekah In The Barn

How My Daughter and Son Became Amish

Hello!  I just wanted to share with you what happens when I can’t find any good reference material or little child models to model for paintings I want to complete.  What I do is look through old photo albums when my kids were younger and when I find a perfect pose, I turn them into whatever I would like them to be.

For example,  I can take an old picture of my daughter when she was small, and if she is facing a certain way that I think that I can use, then suddenly she becomes a flower fairy…or an angel…or in this case, an Amish girl.

When I found these pictures, I could picture in my mind what I wanted them to be.  I just change certain items in the pictures to suit my needs and hopefully it comes out the way I want it to.  So far, Patrick is doing a fine job.  We’ll see, as he is not yet completed. He will be holding a goat in a barn, and Caitlin will be smelling flowers in a garden.

And that’s how my daughter and son became Amish…somewhat. I will share these when I am completed.  Hope you like them.

A Old Pastel Picture From My Past

This picture was done by me many years ago.  I had a box of chalk pastels, regular drawing paper and a pic from a magazine (probably Seventeen Magazine) which was an advertisement for lipstick.  I just applied color to the paper like I would have done make up.  I did not know all I know of the tricks for getting the hair to look like real hair or really how to apply colors…I didn’t even know about pastel pencils for fine lines…even if they had those then.  This was probably done about 1975/78 when I was 18.  It’s amazing to me to even look at it now, to think I did this even then. Funny!

Same Old Lang Syne By Dan Fogelberg Video

Hello everyone!  Hope you had a great New Years!

Just wanted to share this video of a great song I remember from the 1980’s, but you can relate to it even today.  This must have really happened to him as it is just too perfect.  Just a nice New Years song for celebrating times past.  On with the new!

Enjoy!

A Few Oldies, but Goodies

I am posting some of the first pictures I created for greeting cards back in the 70’s.  I remember taking the designs down to the printers with my mother and going over everything with the printer.  The artwork couldn’t contain many colors because of the expense, so to provide interest, I drew in black ink with a rapidograph pen and had it printed on cream-colored stock and colored in certain areas with a red marker.  That was it.  I was so excited when, in about a week, I would get the call from the printer that my cards were ready. Boy, have things changes since then or what???  It was so exciting back then, though.

So, here they are. The first designs I sent out into the world as greeting cards.  You know, I think I am going to cry.

 

Girl On The Beach

Girl On The Hill

Girl In The Rain

 

The Beauty Of The Hours (Reblog)

This is a quote I illustrated awhile back which I really love.  It’s how I really feel about living and enjoying every minute of every day.  Time goes by so quickly.  My kids are now 17, 19 and 20 years of age.  I was a stay- at- home mom, and I loved it.  I wouldn’t  have changed any of it.

The Beauty Of The Hours

Today, as I was folding clothes on my bed, I put on an old CD I used to play for the kids when they were small and read their books.  It was music from the Beatrix Potter animated series that was on PBS (see below).  I love this CD as it helps me focus and think like a child when I have to be creative, drawing,etc.  When I started listening, I almost wanted to cry.  I could picture the three of them sitting on the couch, curled up reading their books.  Their stuffed animals cuddled under their arms while having a snack.  I remember this as clearly as it happened yesterday.  Times were so laid back then.  No homework, studying for SAT’s, driver’s ed and dating problems.  It was excitement, playfulness and innocence.  Hugs and kisses.  I’d take it all back in a second.

Anyway, before I get too emotional, this is what made me want to illustrate this quote.  This is what I picture when I read the words.  It makes me feel serene looking at the girl on the beach, just enjoying something as simple as listening to a seashell.  Can’t you hear it?  Enjoy!

Cheryl

Days Of Innocence (My Kids Patrick, Caitlin and Kelsey about 12 yrs. ago)

My kids reading their books before bedtime. 😦

Little Red Sneakers (A Poem and reblog)

I am posting this yet again, as I see people still look this one up now and again. Enjoy!!!

Here is a poem from my journal that was written 6/21/93.  It is about my children and wanting never to forget all the special memories of their childhood. The red sneakers were Patrick’s, and they were little  canvas high tops-so cute!  (He had several different pairs, and I even saved a pair of velcro cuties!)

This poem is titled:

LITTLE RED SNEAKERS

I want to remember,

Little red sneakers, sandboxes and swings,

and all the little childhood things.

Little Red Sneakers 🙂 (Yes, I saved them)

Joyful laughter-wiping tears, I want to remember through the years.

Ice cream, lollipops and licorice,too,

Wagons and bicycles-a stroller for two.

Christmases and birthdays, when everyone’s over,

Ernie and Bert, Oscar and Grover.

Bathing suits and summer fun, a kiss and hug for everyone.

Carousels and pony rides, cookouts and climbing slides.

A wading pool, chock-full of toys,

Climbing trees is for little boys!

Scampering feet on wooden floors,

Singing kid songs behind closed doors.

Christopher Robin and Winnie The Pooh,

Owl, Eeyore, Kanga and Roo.

Reading books on Mommy’s lap,

Patrick

“Come on now kids, it’s time for your nap!”

Cookies and milk before going to bed.

Stroking blonde hair on a tired boys head.

The kiss and the hug,  the ” I  Love You!” before sleeping,

Lies deep within my heart, worth keeping.

These things I want to remember with pleasure.

Worth more than gold,

It’s a mother’s treasure!

The End

I Wish John-Boy Walton Was My Older Brother

I don’t know what it is about the Walton’s tv show, but to this day, when I watch the show, I am oblivious to anything going on around me.  The only thing that startles me to reality (unfortunately) is the commercials!  I loved the show in the 70’s when family shows were all the rage, and I wish they still were.  TV shows today are so outrageous that I can’t even compare them to the more meaningful ones from the 70’s.  I mean, I know they all weren’t the best, but at least we had something!

When I watch the Walton’s today, a  strange sense of calm comes over me.  A feeling of being less stressed in a simpler time.

Almost the way I felt growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, before technology went crazy. I liked coming home from school and relaxing before doing homework, leaving the stresses of the day behind me and not having to see my classmates until the next day.  Not with facebook!  It’s in front of you 24/7.  That would have driven me insane.  And the bullies that harassed me by day, I’m sure would have found me on facebook.  No thank you!  I  also loved my “one and only”  rotary phone, to “TALK” to someone…not text or e-mail and  somehow try to figure out if the words in the text were meant to be sarcastic or mean in any way.  We worked out many problems and disagreements over the phone! OOOps, I’m sorry, I’m getting off the subject…I wanted to talk about John-Boy Walton…my hero.

Like I said, I loved watching the Walton’s and how they solved their own family problems, ate together at mealtimes with Grandma and Grandpa, and even took in strangers with difficult hardships  and fixed their problems, too. They just took life as it came with all it’s different experiences and learned from them, together.  Always together. It sounds silly, but I always came away from  the show feeling satisfied, like I could survive the next day’s troubles  all because of how I felt inside after watching the show for an hour.

Now, I  do have an older sister and our relationship reminded me so much of the relationship between Mary-Ellen  and Erin. The little spats and also the sisterly love.  I  also have 3 younger brothers, but I had always wished for an older brother. An older brother who would protect me from the cold, harsh world and show me right from wrong, without getting mom or dad involved. Someone I could go to for all kinds of advice and know that he would always be there for me if things didn’t quite go my way.  I’m sure he would’ve somehow made me feel like the sun would surely shine again in the morning.  It would all be okay.  And yes, he would’ve been a writer and write poems and share them with me. Poems about love and romance and life in general.  Of course, I would appreciate that, because I am an artist and write poetry, too. Yes, that was John-Boy.

Ahhh…it is nice to dream…

But I have always loved John-Boy, or Richard Thomas, since he played the part, and I think he would think it was funny  that there is still women out there that have secretly admired him all these years.  He  just looks like he is a very nice person to get to know.  I never read anything bad about him.  He just looks like a pleasant, very nice person.

Flashback:   One day on our Honeymoon in Washington DC ( in 1985 ), my husband and I were at this very nice restaurant.  As we were eating, my husband told me that Richard Thomas had just walked in.  I did not believe him! But it was him!!! He and another actor were starring on a stage production nearby and they were eating out together.  He was only tables away from me!!!Oh my God!  I’m thinking….autograph..no… he will think I am stupid…no.  I really would have loved to go over to him and tell him how much I loved his work, but I probably would have drooled instead, so nevermind.  I still remember what he was wearing and how he just strolled in like he was my next door neighbor.  Unbelievable.

Anyway, that’s my story.  Now you know my secret crush, oh well.  I’ve held it in for so long, it just had to come out someday.

So if you ever happen to see Richard Thomas in your travels, let me know,and see if you can’t get that extra autograph for me, ok???  🙂

Goodnight John-Boy!

John-Boy

Richard Thomas

Norman Rockwell-Perfect For His Time (via Cherylmcnulty’s Blog)

Here is a blog I wrote about my favorite artist some time ago. I want to write another blog on Norman Rockwell, a more intimate one on the man and my visit to Stockbridge, Mass. and seeing his paintings up close in the museum there. I will do that soon, but in the meantime, enjoy this post. It is funny to think about. 🙂

    Norman Rockwell…what can I say?  He was such a wonderful illustrator.  The way he illustrated life was genuine.  A whole story could be told in a single illustration without one word being written.  All you had to do was really look at the picture, and you could somehow relate to what he was trying to tell you through his … Read More

via Cherylmcnulty's Blog

Little Red Sneakers (via Cherylmcnulty’s Blog)

I know I’ve reblogged this before, but I think it is a great poem and many people enjoyed this last time. Here’s one for all the moms that “want to remember” and know that special times with little ones never really last for very long. Thank God for memories! Enjoy!

    Here is a poem from my journal that was written 6/21/93.  It is about my children and wanting never to forget all the special memories of their childhood. The … Read More

via Cherylmcnulty’s Blog