A Little Boy Named Sean

Posted on November 2, 2014 by AM Roselli

Dear Friends,
On October 17th, my local community paper published an article about a beautiful, ten-year-old boy named Sean Cadden. Sean is the son of Police Sergeant Patrick Cadden of Newburgh, New York. Sean has leukemia. His disease had been in complete remission, but this August, Sean was again diagnosed with leukemia.

Sean entered Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, Westchester Medical Center, NY on November 1. He’ll be there about ten weeks. Sean’s treatment will include a bone marrow transplant.

Sean would like to decorate his roon with patches from Police Departments, Swat Teams and any other Emergency Service Agencies. If you have a patch please send to: Town of Newburgh Police Department, 300 Gardnertown Road, Newburgh, NY 12550.

Let’s make Sean’s eyes gleam.
I did not have a patch to send, so I sketched Sean’s likeness (newspaper’s photo for reference) and added a police hat with his name.

Thank you. May you dream of healthy children, and of those children that aren’t in good health – getting the medical attention they need.

Letter from Liberia, PLEASE RE-SHARE, Thank you

Posted on October 20, 2014 by AM Roselli

LETTER FROM LIBERIA

For Liberia/pastel

When to Roar

Posted on October 20, 2014 by AM Roselli

Dear Friends,
Roaring every so often is good for the soul, the heart and the jaw muscles. One shouldn’t roar for things like children’s unkempt bedrooms or misbehaving technology. These aren’t roar-worthy concerns. Though I know better, I’ve been flexing my jawbone too much. When one roars for unimportant things, they burden the over-taxed airways and other critical roars can’t be heard.

Roaring is good, when there is great need. Roar for West Africa, roar for the sick, roar for the helpless…please don’t waste a healthy roar…

Thank you. May you dream of roaring among the waves and soaring among the stars…

Dragon Roar drawn a last week after housecleaning.

Please Share Simon Tocclo’s Liberian Message

Posted on October 17, 2014 by AM Roselli

Dear Friends,
Someone needs help. The someone is everyone and everyone needs someone…

I promised my dear friend, Simon – whose Liberian homeland is being ravaged by Ebola – I’d share his post. It would mean a great deal to Simon’s loved ones, both near and far, and to all areas afflicted with this disease, if you shared Simon’s message. I tried reblogging Simon Tocclo’s post, unfortunately, my new host site isn’t cooperating, so I did the next best thing and created my own post and linked to Simon’s blog/and his post.

Thank you so very much.

Starved woman/pastel done in 1998 under different circumstances…

Stranger Girl

Posted on October 14, 2014 by AM Roselli

Dear Friends,
Below is a five minute sketch. She was created to live demo basic ‘facing’ for an art student. I had a little fun with eye decoration (that ate 3 of the minutes). The ‘quickie’ was later tacked to my studio cork board. Yesterday while drawing a ‘real’ portrait for someone, the young lady hanging from my cork board spoke.

She directed in a slightly demanding tone, “Hey you, look up here!” A little shocked, my eyes hesitantly rolled up, followed by my head. Once the young lady had my full attention, her voice softened, “Please,” then she paused for a dramatic moment, “Please, tell me who I am?”

I looked away and stared at the floor. I thought a minute then replied,”I don’t know.” I looked back at her face and those black-lined eyes. She appeared sadder than I remembered drawing her. So I added, “But I promise, when I’m done discovering who I am, I’ll figure out who you are. For now, I’ll just call you Stranger Girl.”

She smiled. She had a name and that was a start.

Thank you. May you dream of strange people with friendly faces.

Mind Traveling

Posted on September 23, 2014 by AM Roselli

Dear Friends,
Since admitting to brain tattoos, I’ll admit one more grey matter item: I mind travel. Mind traveling is out of necessity. The giant husband works six days a week (someone has to tend trees and plants for the universe). At present, long distance trips are difficult. Once the delicate daughter and big son go off to college – just a few short years away – we plan on doing some serious traveling. We are going to leave the upper right side of the United States map, assuming we’re both still present and accounted for on earth… So here’s to planes, trains and winning Powerball!

Thank you. May you dream of pristine sailing vessels, five-star jets, luxury trains and winning the lottery…
Traveling Man created after receiving ‘free’ cruise coupon in the mail.

Fallen Stone, Painted Rocks

Posted on September 11, 2014 by AM Roselli

Dear Friends,
For Americans, September 11th has become a day of remembrance. On this day we remember the fallen, the injured, the loss, the lessons, the heartbreak, the world…

On that pristine, cloudless day in 2001, the New York skyline was blackened. Americans were shocked by tragedy. What happened afterward was nothing short of spectacular. The indomitable American spirit rose up like a phoenix. We grieved long, then we rebuilt the fallen stone.

After 9/11 many of us looked for ways to help out. I painted hundreds of beach pebbles then planted myself in front of the local grocery store. I collected over $1,200 selling rocks for $1, but many teary-eyed people donated much more. We look back and still weep.

The money was given to FDNY Rescue 1 – they’d lost half their company, eleven men.
The portrait below is of FDNY Rescue 1, Firefighter Gary Geidel (44 years of age), who was lost on 9/11/2001. I painted this for his mother.

There are many parts of the world that can’t look back, their lands are still war zones. I pray for worldwide peace. It is very, very difficult…but not impossible.

Thank you. May you too, dream of world wide peace…

House Mermaids

Posted on September 10, 2014 by AM Roselli

Dear Friends,
Look ’round your home. If you have a daughter, you have a mermaid. A beautiful, lovely creature who’s sometimes unsure of where she fits in. She is playful like the seal, but can be stormy like the sea. She adores her sparkling fin but pines for shoes. She is bold as the barracuda, when she’s not ‘hermitting’ within a vacated shell. She cherishes her hair, but would trade it to save the world.
My little mermaid above, and my other little mermaid below.

Mermaid Girl

Thank you. May you dream of swimming with dolphins and whales upon a sparkling sea…
Delicate Daughter Mermaid taken in Vermont 2007,
Earth Mermaid created after getting mad at daughter for her messy room.

My Dear Friend Simon from Liberia

Posted on September 7, 2014 by AM Roselli

Dear Friends,
Way back in the 1600’s, many Europeans believed the world had entered into the Apocalypse. There were cruel plagues, high mortality rates – and far worse – many who didn’t subscribe to a ‘common’ Christian belief system… These Europeans fervently believed the End of Days was closing in, but oddly, the Four Horsemen never materialized. Somehow the human race persevered in Europe and elsewhere. Ultimately, it was the selfless: the sacrificers, the healers, the caring brothers and sisters – who kept us believing in a good earth and the benevolence of mankind.

Today in my local paper there was a touching article about people traveling to Liberia to bring comfort to the afflicted. In West Africa: communities and neighbors, medics and health workers, caring volunteers are all selflessly giving – it is they who bring the lion’s heart and the healer’s shield into battle. The war against Ebola is far from over, but the brave are standing up. They’re challenging this virus and fighting it daily. The human spirit is a powerful healer.

I have a dear blog friend, Simon Tocclo who was born in Liberia. He’s a caring father, talented musician, but above all, Simon is a brother to all. I think of his family often and hope wherever they travel, they are well. Simon’s site is Liberian Me. If you haven’t visited, please do and let Simon know many hearts follow him, his family and his homeland.

SImon Says Peace

Thank you. May we all dream together for all those who are not well…

The Quiet Humble of a Role Model

Posted on July 16, 2014 by AM Roselli

Dear Friends,
I’m a floating sideline spectator whenever the giant husband and big son are entertained by crunching helmets, leaping high-tops or cracking bats. Once in a while, I’ll land on the couch and observe the action up close. Above the din, there is one echo I listen for. A sound one must hear with both ears open these days – the quite humble of a role model. It’s a rare combination of platinum ethics and golden athletic prowess. The man donning pinstripes No.2 possesses this treasured combination. Each time Derek Jeter tips his cap, he lifts a young fan’s heart.

Throughout Derek Jeter’s prolific career, his on – but more importantly – his off-field image has gleamed. One sometimes wonders the plausibility of such a feat anymore when ridiculous entitlement breeds contempt. Derek Jeter has exhibited with grace and class how to be outrageously talented yet quietly humble. And now I’ll wait for a few more superstars to step up to the plate and shine for all those watching, including my children…

Perhaps in the end, I admire Derek Jeter most for his endearing sentiments-
“You try to carry yourself the right way. I’ve always tried to do that. Then again I am who I am. I don’t try to be any different. If people respect you for the way that you carry yourself, it means a lot to me and it means a lot to my family. It makes you feel good.” -Derek Jeter as quoted by the Associated Press