To my dearest friend — thank you for sharing your brightest life
your infectious joy, your brilliant smile
each day softening these endless farewells
so—goodbye, beautiful lady—goodbye, Mom
but—hello again, always—hello again…
I miss you I adore you I love you
(above) Millie, at 80, riding the Coney Island Cyclone (1996)
xo❤️💐
Millie passed in 2021
Sometimes, a hug can brace us for tomorrow
hope you’re all managing okay
am:)
Yesterday’s post highlighted an artwork I painted for my son. The painting – Washington’s Last Cantonment – was created after I’d painted a canvas for his sister.
For the acrylic (above), I used several old reference images – some of the fish – like the large koi – were directly inspired from those images (apologies to the brilliant artists – I’ve been unable to locate their names to properly credit) – a few of the other fish swim in my head – and now – on my daughter’s apartment wall. She’d requested the specific water color…for interior decor ‘matchi-ness’:)
Both paintings are 4′ x 2′ – each a labor of love. As much as I don’t enjoy painting landscapes, water scenes run a close second. I find the most joy in creating cryptids and creatures. I don’t know why or what to think of that. Perhaps, I shouldn’t ponder fangs and claws too deeply. These thoughts might reveal lurking images in the sub-basement brain;)
Looks to be another cold beautiful day here in the Hudson Valley.
Keep warm,
am:)
I don’t often show post-stroke images of my beautiful mom. I share the image (below) to share Millie’s joy.
Through three years of relentless pain, Millie smiled and expressed joy. Knowing her was a gift, and her lessons of love🌹 remain with me.
As her Halloween Birthday
arrives, I will smile impossibly wide to pay Millie’s gift forward in a world that needs a hell of a lot more love
I wish you all a fun, fabulous, creative, smiling, and safe👻Happy Halloween!
am:)
(image below taken many harvest moons ago when Millie and Billy were cruisin’ around in their convertible Mustang GT, and my kiddies were not yet costing us college money😁)
Cheyenne’s spectacular gift wrap featured above!
May this year be spent in noble pursuit of your dreams, met simply, one day at a time
am:)
photo: my beautiful daughter back before she knew anything of bucket lists or books with titles like, 100 Places to Travel Before You Die
I hope you and your loved ones are well.
I believe every human being should paint a dog. This is our Mojo. My daughter, who will miss him when she leaves in August to study Sustainability, asked me to paint his endearing face for one of her blank walls.
I’ve been on a personal mission to improve my word and art mind while trying to avoid deep media dives. I generally remain off-politic on this site, maintaining this space as my creative respite. But there’s so much going on out there, and I worry what this world will be like for my young adult children and their future families. The heat isn’t only climate-related.
I believe every human being is entitled to:
be whoever they believe they are
love whoever they choose
A woman’s body is her own as are her personal choices
I pray my daughter has the freedom to make her own choices
(Mojo’s background was originally purple, my daughter requested more earthly tones:) )
“Quarantine and social distancing have brought up a lot: anxieties, memories, and even new observations.
Throughout the week we’ll publish selected works on our website and across our social media channels (an audience of about 25,000).
Share your stories.“ —From Whispers To Roars
Stay safe❤️
a warm, wonderful 2020 to all!❤️
anntogether 