"The Gift"

"Happy"

18" x 18" on museum quality panel, framed

$1400

"When we fall in love, what we fall in love with, is the way that person makes us feel about ourselves when we are with them." 

I overheard this statement many years ago and have never forgotten it.  The reason?  Because I felt its truth then and have personally found it to be true in the time that has since passed from when I first heard it. 

I have been in the presence of many people since then.  Sometimes I have left, feeling somewhat akin to a rat --no count, lazy, stupid, slacker, wanna be, ugly, old, dumb.  But then, there are those spirits, those people, that in their presence I felt like the cat's pajamas.  I felt smart, witty, attractive, engaging, worthwhile, capable, and ...well....LOVED!  And this came from people that I had sometimes just met all the way to those who have known me many years.  They just had that intense sparkle in their eyes, they "heard" me!  They didn't have to spend hours with me or give me gifts. 

What they did, knowingly or unknowingly, was give the best of themselves to me--they saw me through the eyes of love and thus allowed me to see myself that way.  And I left their presence walking taller, feeling like I could do the things I dreamed of. 

With one year ending and another beginning, thanks to each of you who have made me feel "taller" while  in your presence this year. 

You have given the best gift of all.  The gift of making another feel good about themselves.  And that is the  gift of love.

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P.S.  My girl is home this week with me, so if I am a bit absent online, please know I am very present with my daughter and making the most of each precious minute.  If there are any blog posts mentioning a "tuna drive" you will know it's Eddie behind it and not me......

Note:  The painting Happy is one of those available from the Let There Be Love... Collection.  From now until December 31, 2010, paintings from this collection are available with free shipping in the continental US and come with an autographed copy of the book of that name.  Flex pay is available as well, spreading the amount into 3 pays over 3 months, so that you can acquire the art you wish for your collection.  To see the entire collection you can click here.

Reproductions of this collection are available to purchase by clicking here. Pin It

"Happy"

"Happy"

18 x 18 in, oil on canvas

"...act happy, feel happy, be happy, without a reason in the world.  Then you can love and do what you will.....I am not telling you how to be happy you see, I am just telling you to be happy."

                                                 excerpt from The Way of the Peaceful Warrior

This painting has some pretty neat words tucked into it....can you see them?

Well, I am guessing at least one person will be happy that reads this today...:)) I had so many nice comments on my blog, even if they did come by way of a bribe...:)  Thanks so very much to each one of you that took the time to write---it made for a great reading day!  I used random.org to decide the winner--I wanted to let Eddie pick but then I could tell he was going to try to stuff the ballot box with those who had offered tuna in exchange for the book.

But first, the news in brief...:))

• Mark your calendars for the Harrodsburg Festival of Books and Arts, Saturday, June 26 in (where else) Harrodsburg, Ky.  I have been honored with being one of the main stage artists to talk about my book and painting....please feel free to come out and heckle me from the audience..who knows when you will get another chance! (I will have paintings and both of my books on hand.)
• People are already signing up for my upcoming 3 Day Oil Painting/ 1 Day Art Business/Motivational workshop in Pasadena, CA , Sept. 23-26.  Leslie Saeta and I have partnered up to offer an incredible workshop on everything we know (I know, amazing we can cover it in 4 days..:))!  Read here for details and to sign up.
• This weeks blog radio show Artists Helping Artists that I co-host with Leslie Saeta is on framing--I would love to have you on the line when we are live to join in!  Details are on the side bar of my blog--it's this Thursday at 12 noon, save the date!
• The winner for the drawing of my monthly painting give away for May is....Theresa Paden of CA.  Click here to see the painting Theresa won!
• And one more thing....okay, just teasin' ya....without further ado, drum roll please, envelope please---Eddie and I are happy to announce, the winner of  my new book for those artists who are wanting to take the plunge to build their art business but don't know where to start--"The Artist's Toolbox"--the winner is....SUSAN RODEN!!  Congratulations Susan! 

Note:  I actually know Susan and her work--a great artist!  And she is hardly a beginner in the marketing of her work, so I am going to offer you Susan your pick of my books--Let There Be Love or The Artist's Toolbox.  Let There Be Love includes my writings and 26 paintings.  The Artist's Toolbox has 12 large and numerous small photos of my paintings, along with basic beginner marketing strategies and motivational things.  You decide...:))  Let me know and I will drop it in the mail. 

Thanks to each of you for chiming in.  And this completes my 200th post.  Is that perfect timing or what?? A painting and a book giveaway.  I am HAPPY!!

P.S.  Remember, to be eligible each and every month for my painting giveaway, sign up to receive my blog and newsletter and increase your odds by becoming a blog follower and/or leaving lots of comments!

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