Portrait of a Woman, A Thankful Heart

A Thankful Heart

Is a Heart at Peace

It is no secret that peace is a by-product of gratitude. It is also true that often the most thankful people are those who do not exhibit an abundance of material possessions. It may not make any sense to the rest of us, but it is true, nevertheless. They tend to treasure the simple things in life, the things we all take for granted - love, friendship, beauty, and the joy of living.

That is why, at this time of year, we all can take time out from making and spending money, running here and there, and trying to have a good time, just to say, "Thank you."  I wish I had said thank you more often to my parents, but I can still say it to my husband, my children, my friends and neighbors, my pastors, the UPS man, rhe Schwan man, the guy who reads my gas meter! Thank you for being in my life. Thank you for all the threads you have sewn into my tapestry of living.  Thank you that the world is a better, more interesting place because of you.

A thankful heart is a heart at peace. For that reason, I thank God, for the peace that passes all understanding, for His unfailing love, for the abundant life He has given me.  A teacher of mine used to say, "God's prosperity is when all your needs are met and there is still enough left over to meet the needs of others."
Have a blessed and prosperous Thanksgiving!

A Not So Gentle Reminder

 Ten years ago today on November 12, 2005 a tornado destroyed several houses here and left the rest of our town looking like a combat zone. It had come as a surprise attack, arriving as it did in November when we are used to thinking more about blizzards than summer storms.  So it took a little time to convince the entire household that a trip to the basement might be in order.  I remember my father, who was living with us at the time, seemed quite content to stand and watch from the window in his bedroom. Barney, our big dog, hid not only because of the storm but because he didn't like stairs and wanted nothing to do with basements. Little Button was ready for me to carry him anywhere. To me it seemed that everyone was moving in slow motion, even my husband, whom I suspected was just humoring me. Then John McLaughlin, the weatherman on KCCI said, "Woodward, you have two minutes to get to the basement" and things did begin to happen.  Somehow we all made it to the basement before the freight train hit. And yes, it did sound like a freight train. There were no serious injuries in Woodward and the town did manage to rebuild and recover from all the damage. But the Woodward tornado will never be forgotten.

Lest we forget...
Yesterday once again we found ourselves in the path of a fierce storm, with almost the same point of origin, traveling nearly the same path as the Great Tornado of 2005. This time it was called a "radar identified rotation,"  and as far as I know, was never observed touching the ground. The winds that hit Woodward were also very strong and very loud, but the damage was far less intense.  Yet it seemed to me an eerie reminder.

I have a personal, more comforting reminder of that day. I call it my "Ebenezer Stone," and hardly a day passes that I don't look at it and remember.

The day before the big storm I had been reading in my morning devotions about a battle between the Israelites and the Philistines. When the Israelites cried to God for help, He sent a clap of thunder to the camp of the enemy, causing them to panic and run away in fear. Then Samuel, the judge and priest of Israel set up a special stone which he named "Ebenezer" because the Lord has brought us this far. For some reason,  I couldn't get this stone out of my mind. It kept invading my thoughts all day long.

Finally I decided to make one for myself.  Done in a hurry, not exactly a work of art.  But from the basement as the freight train was headed our way, I remembered the stone and all the trials God had brought us through before. We would be all right. If the house was destroyed and we lost everything, we would start over and we would be all right. If it all caved in on us, we would be together in Heaven and we would be all right. So we all just huddled together and prayed. And trusted. Now, whenever I see my stone I think of the day of the big tornado and I thank God that all three adults, plus two dogs and a cat, made it through safely. And, no matter what happens, we will be OK.

Jaguar of the Jungle, Acrylic Painting

Jaguar of the Jungle

Acrylic, 14 x 11

An exotic and beautiful animal, the Jaguar is little less known than some of his African relatives. Jaguars live in the rain forests of South and Central America and have also been seen on occasion  traveling the freeways near Los Angeles, California. (Sorry, I couldn't resist that one.)
My sightings have all been in zoos, which isn't the ideal - every artist agrees it is best to observe wildlife in their natural habitats - but it's the best I can do for right now.  Traveling the world and shooting wildlife with a camera ( and only a camera!) has always been a dream,  but it is still a dream, and with each passing year it seems a little less likely to become reality.  I do carry a sketchbook with me wherever I go - just in case. You never know.

This painting was my first attempt to express the spirit of this particular exotic cat. Usually I do big cats in pastel, as that medium just seems to lend itself to fur, especially when there are spots and other markings. For some reason this guy asked to be done in acrylic. I usually go by what they tell me. There is no analyzing it, maybe it is artist's intuition. I just go with the flow. He is a beautiful, incredibly well designed animal.  I love the texture of his fur, his amazing spots and especially his ears and whiskers. Like everything on earth, he is "fearfully and wonderfully made" and, as an artist, I stand in awe of his Creator.

Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the Jaguar's namesake, who happens to be an automobile. The vehicle is described as being well built with sleek, low lines, beautiful color and lots of speed.  Well, that fits. So I googled cars named after cats and found there are at least forty, from cougars and pumas to kittens and pink panthers (that seems like a stretch.)  It would appear that people are fascinated by cats and want to identify with them.

 And I will put in a little plug here: If you have ever wanted to own a Jaguar, but thought you couldn't afford one, here is your chance.  This and many other paintings are available for sale in my online gallery.

The Creative Spirit Gallery, Art by Della Burgus

Persian Beauty Cat Portrait

Perfection

Persian Cat

Pastel

A small pastel portrait of an elegant and beautiful cat. This one was begun in black and white charcoal pencils and finished in pastel for more depth. The serene green eyes and soft fur, with subtle blue and lavender tones in its shadows,  were a delight to render. Persians have always been a favorite of mine, not only for their beautiful appearance but also for the sense of serenity and regal bearing. And I have learned from people who have lived with them that they are also playful, they can be a bit willful, and most of them are very affectionate.

Canson MiTientes is still my favorite surface for pastels.  I like the soft side of the paper, which some artists believe is the "wrong" side. It has just enough texture to hold the pastels without the regular weave pattern that seems distracting for me.  Having said that, I also occasionally like to experiment with other papers,  especially those that are "sanded" and some really nice ones with the feel of suede. Variety and experimenting keeps my passion for art alive.

This and other paintings are available through my online gallery, The Creative Spirit Gallery, Art by Della Burgus

Or email me at dellartist@yahoo.com

Sunrise: Morning Has Broken

Sunrise:

Morning Has Broken

The sun rises over distant hills casting a rosy glow across the landscape. The colors are slightly muted, more subtle than the colors of a sunset - a bright, cheerful hello at the beginning of a day in contrast to the vivid, dramatic colors announcing its end.
In order to preserve the luminosity of the colors, I worked this one in layers, gradually building them up from very thin to thicker paint.  It was done is a somewhat looser style than my animal and wildlife paintings without so much attention to detail.
The colors themselves are a fairly standard selection - ultramarine with a little cerulean blue and lots of white for the sky, more white, cad yellow hue and a little ochre for the sun, and just a tiny bit of crimson and even more white where the sun meets the blue sky.  The earth was painted in ochres and umbers, with a bit of raw sienna. I am experimenting with  a new addition to my personal palette -quinacridone burnt orange.  Not new, but new to me and it is working out well so far.
Occasionally adding new colors to my working collection is a good way to keep me from becoming bored - and therefore boring. It can be overdone, of course, but a little change now and then keeps me going.
I gave the painting the title of a favorite song, Morning Has Broken. You may be familiar with Cat Stevens' version of it, My favorite is by Michael Card.

This and many other paintings are available through my gallery

The Creative Spirit, Art by Della Burgus

Red Fox in a Snowdrift

Red Fox in a Snowdrift

Pastel, 8.5 x 11

One last look at winter. It was a cold one this year in most of the country, not the most pleasant memory for any of us. And yet, even on the coldest, most dreary day, you can find moments of beauty and pure joy. This is one of my most favorite subjects in one of its most perfect settings. I can not think of anything more stunning than a brilliant red-gold fox bounding through the pristine white snow.  Snow and foxes, they seem to have been made for each other. And they serve to remind us to always look for the beautiful, even in a snowstorm.

I love using pastel because of the spontaneity and versatility of the medium.  With the sides of the pastel sticks I can lay down broad strokes of color for fur, and with the edges I can draw tiny hairs or whiskers - and for the fox I need them both.  They come in a wide range of colors, which is good because they aren't really that mixable. But they are messy and fun to use and in a way they take me back to the crayons I loved as a child.

May you see beauty in this day, and something to do that brings you as much joy as your happiest childhood memory.

The Way of An Eagle in the Sky

The Way of An Eagle in the Sky

It seems eagles have become like pop stars lately. Nearly every area of the country has its own eagle cam, and very few people can resist taking a peek once in a while at least. We are fascinated  by their strength and beauty; we love to watch their family life, their fierce protectiveness and tender care of their offspring. We love to watch the babies hatch and grow, their funny antics, and their first flights. But we aren't the first admirers. Way back in biblical days, one of the writers of Proverbs observed:

There are three things which are too wonderful for me,
Four which I do not understand:
¹⁹ The way of an eagle in the sky,
The way of a serpent on a rock,
The way of a ship in the middle of the sea,
And the way of a man with a maid.
Prov. 30:18-19

The world is filled with wonderful, awesome things that none of us can really understand.  We may observe, study, form hypotheses, and draw conclusions,  but we will never fully know.  Eventually, even the greatest minds come to the end of themselves and admit that there is Someone in the universe who planned and created it all.  That is the "WOW" factor.  That is also the God factor. 

Albert Einstein said:

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

Think I will go for the "WOW" factor.

Blue Jay Dining Out

Blue Jay

Dining Out 

Pastel

 What grass is visible has turned a dull brown, the last flower faded months ago, and the sky is gray for days at a time. We call it "winter." The white snow is pretty at first, but a little color would be nice for a change. So God made the blue jay and sent him into my backyard. So what if he has a reputation for argumentative and a few bad habits? There is no denying he is graceful and beautiful. That is all he needs to be, that is his calling in life and he fulfills it well. He is always a welcome sight to me. He reminds me of the color of the sky when it isn't gray and the bright pretty flowers in my garden.

The beautiful blending of blues and soft, subtle grays inspired me to paint him. I wanted to keep the background simple and somewhat neutral in color to contrast with those bright feathers. I love his expression, which is bright and perky, but seems to say, "This is my spot and I have a right to be here." My thanks to my husband Larry who provided most of the resource photos.  The birds don't have enough patience to do any posing for portraits.

This pastel is no longer available for sale. It was purchased by a fellow artist and birdwatcher, who is also an art teacher for fourth and fifth grade students.  I love hearing from other artists and feel honored that she chose to buy my little jay bird.

Thanks for reading. Here's hoping you all have a colorful day. Spring is coming!

"At Day's End" Old Barn Acrylic Painting

At Day's End

Old Barn

"At Day's End" signifies not only the end of the day but of a time long past. I thought about calling it "Day is Dying in the West" but that did seem a little depressing, plus it makes rather a long title.

Old barns can be picturesque and are even considered beautiful by some, but to me there is always a sadness about them.  The family farm is quickly disappearing from the American landscape. Where once there was life and activity, crops and livestock, parents and children working and playing together, now there is only silence. That way of life and even its memory is fading away. It has been said that, besides death and taxes, change is the one constant in life. It isn't all bad; in some ways we live better than they did back then. Automobiles are nice, electricity and indoor plumbing. I for one am thankful for the Internet as it has enabled me to meet people throughout the world.  Still, there is a sadness associated with the end of things, a nostalgia, and perhaps a desire to visit those quieter, simpler days if only just once.  We could learn something from them, probably more than we would expect.

This is an acrylic painting on stretched canvas and is available through my online gallery. The Creative Spirit Gallery.  It was inspired by the barn belonging to my husband's step-grandfather.

For a number of reasons, I have been absent from the blog lately and I apologize.  One of my favorite quotes was actually attributed to John Lennon: "Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans."  I can blame illness, busyness,  family circumstances, and all kinds of other things, big and little,
but those are the things that make up life, and they are not really an excuse.  I promise to do my best not to let those things get in the way so much, now that they have all settled down a little. For a while at least.

Have a happy Tuesday!

Wolf in Wolf's Clothing

Wolf in Wolf's Clothing

Taking a little break from commissions and portraits to do something different. Painting wildlife is a way of escape for me. It takes me away from the ordinary ups and downs of everyday living into another world, where for a while at least I can experience life from the viewpoint of another creature.  For centuries the wolf has been the subject of stories and folklore. He is  worshipped by some, hated by others and respected by a few. In truth, he neither god nor devil, but simply the wild animal he was created to be. He lives in a community for protection and companionship and hunts for food to survive.  Not really so different from us...

I chose to paint this guy looking a little scruffy because he lives in the wild and doesn't brush his hair. He probably doesn't even bathe regularly, so he won't look as well groomed as a contestant in a dog show.  Yet in his own way, he too is beautiful.  The pastel is on Uart sanded pastel paper, a new surface for me, though actually it has been around for quite a while. I love the surface - enough texture to hold on to the softest of pastels, but fine enough for detail work.  It is never too late to try something new.

For information on purchasing this or other paintings, visit my online gallery, The Creative Spirit Gallery

The Collector

Squirrel

The Collector

Pastel, 9 x 12

This little guy likes to hang out in the tree by the window in my studio.  Actually, lots of his friends hang out there as well. Maybe that is because my husband had built a squirrel feeder and attached it to the trunk.  The ear of corn it holds keeps them busy for a while, though occasionally they do have to stop and nap in the middle of a meal...

I enjoy watching them as go through their day, snacking on tidbits, chasing each other, teasing the dogs, and chattering incessantly. They remind of of the verse from Proverbs. "A merry heart does good like a medicine." Whether or not they have merry hearts may be up for discussion, as they do have tempers and squabbles often seem to break out among them, but they always bring a smile to my face. So it is medicine for me, at least.

This painting was done on a new (to me) pastel paper which I believe will become one of my favorites. It is UArt pastel paper, and is available in several different  grades from very fine to very rough. Actually it feels similar to sandpaper but is acid free for artists' use. I use their 500 grade, which is considered medium fine. It grips the pastels just like Wallis paper but the finer grade makes it easier to show detail. And those of you familiar with my work know how I love detail!  I didn't like that it came in only one color, a light buff, but you can use watercolor to tint or underpaint, which some artists prefer to do anyway. Of course, I will always love Canson, my old standby but every now and then it is a good thing to have some variety in life.

This and other paintings are available for sale through my online gallery, The Creative Spirit Gallery.
I have not been posting regularly for some time, but am hoping to remedy that. Thanks for your patience and understanding and thanks for stopping by!  Hope to see you again soon.

Calla Lilies Part 2

Calla Lily

The Light of the World

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas, Deep

12 x 16 x 1.5 inches

Sometimes the stories of the people who buy paintings are as interesting to me as the paintings themselves. In a previous post I shared the first in this series, titled "Faith, Hope and Love." To a lovely lady in New Zealand, the painting symbolized herself and her two friends. She commissioned a companion piece featuring a single large flower to remind her of the Lord, who was always with them on their journey through life.  Creating a composition to harmonize with another painting which was already halfway around the world was both inspiring and challenging. I wanted it to be similar in feeling, but with just enough difference to make it special and unique.   When the second painting was finally  shipped, I felt a touch of sadness. First, because the experience had been so rewarding, a part of me didn't want it to end, and second because I would never see the two paintings hanging together as they had been intended.  Fortunately Gabrielle took care of the second problem by taking a photo of the paintings as they were arranged.  

I love it!!!

These paintings have been sold, but there are many other paintings of flowers, animals and other subjects available through my Creative Spirit Gallery.  New work is added periodically. http://dellartistgallery.blogspot.com/

Calla Lilies, Philodendrons and Pig Lilies

Joy

Calla Lily
9 x 6 Pastel
Matted to 11 x 14

This small pastel with a horizontal format is available through my online gallery, The Creative Spirit Gallery. It is matted and ready for the frame of your choice.

With its simple yet elegant blooms and long, stately stems, it is no surprise that the calla lily takes its name from a Greek word for beauty. You might be surprised to know, however that this flower is not a true lily. It was mistakenly identified somewhere in its past and is actually more closely related to the philodendron. It its native land it is known as "trumpet lily" or "pig lily." That is probably more information than you needed, but it does tend to support the view that "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

Faith, Hope, and Love

Calla Lily

Acrylic on Stretched Canvas  8 x 16

This painting was purchased by a lovely lady in New Zealand. To her, it represented herself and her two friends. She has also commissioned a companion piece of the same size to group with it. This will be a single calla lily, representing Jesus. Right now it is in the planning stage, but I will share it when it is finished.

Calla lilies traditionally represent faithfulness, joy, and rebirth and are often used in wedding bouquets as well as in Easter celebrations as a symbol of Christ's resurrection. For this painting I decided to use three of them simply because the composition fit the canvas,  but the the finished painting made me think of one of my favorite Bible verses,  1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now, these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." And so, the title, Faith, Hope and Love.  When everything else has disappeared and there seems to be nothing left, these three still remain. And when you have faith, hope and love, you have everything.

Today I pray that you have everything - Faith, Hope and Love!

Josh and Joey

Pastel

This is a portrait commissioned by a woman as a gift to her daughter, the mother of the two boys.  Children's portraits are always a delight to do. I did a few of my own kids as they were growing up, but of course they weren't really appreciated by the kids themselves. Still, I felt it important to keep my own artistic record of their lives. They grew up so fast. The last portraits were done about the time of high school graduation and they  both preferred photos. But I have discovered that portraits are most often made not for the subjects themselves but for the people who love them. There is something about the human touch and the expression of the soul inside the likeness that really speaks to their loved ones, and I am always working for that.

Portraits from photos of both pets and people are available.  I am pretty much booked up right now, but feel free to email me for information.

dellartist@yahoo.com

Lavender Blue and White Iris

Lavender Blue

The spring flowers bloomed a little later this year because of the very wet spring and an unexpected snowstorm in May. And I have been busy with commissioned portraits so my spring flower paintings are even later. But the greatest thing about flower paintings is that they never wilt, they just keep on blooming and we can relive the early days of spring all day long.

The iris is a most welcome early sign of spring to me. After a long, hard winter - and any winter in Iowa is long and hard, no matter how short and gentle may seem - anything with green foliage and bright color is a welcome sight. Of course we have the really early harbingers of the new season -  the hyacinth, tulips and daffodils -  but there is something mind blowing about seeing this gorgeous, exotic plant coming up out of the ground. They are regal and majestic and every bit as beautiful to me as orchids. They take me back to some of the happier times of my childhood. My mother loved iris. they were easy to care for and quite prolific, so there were always plenty around. Of course back then all we had were the purple and yellow varieties, and sometimes those that were a strange sort of mixture of the two. Most of them were small, some were downright tiny, but they produced a lot of joy for very little money. Usually they came from friends or were traded with others so no money changed hands at all.  Now they are available in every color imaginable - well, they may have been available then, but not affordable, at least not for us.  Every year I gaze with astonishment at the glorious array of pink, maroon, peach, blue, purple, white and yes, even black ones that suddenly appear in the garden. I think of Mom again and hope that there are flowers in heaven for her to enjoy along the way.  If there hadn't been, I imagine she has planted more than a few gardens by now.

This painting is acrylic on canvas, 8 x 10 and is available through my gallery, The Creative Spirit Gallery.

Beautiful Brittany Acrylic Painting

Brittany

Acrylic on stretched, wrapped canvas

Beautiful Brittany, sometimes known as a Brittany Spaniel, but its features more closely resemble a setter or a pointer. I love the alert, intelligent expression and those wonderful eyes. This painting is part of my series titled, "When I Look In Your Eyes," inspired by the song of the same name from the musical Dr. Doolittle.  This one has a job to do and he is ready to get started.  Besides being a hard worker he is a devoted companion and a loving friend. 

In general dogs tend to be emotional and expressive people which is probably why we like them so much. You never have to wonder what they really think of you because it usually becomes fairly obvious within the first few minutes. And you don't have to worry about them criticizing you or talking behind your back. They would never do anything to hurt your feelings or even make fun of you. They are loyal and forgiving to a fault. All things considered they make better friends than we do.  

When it comes to loving perfectly and unconditionally, dogs have it down pat. But I still need a little work...

 Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,  Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,  Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.  Love never dies.  1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, The Message Bible

Look for the Brittany on Art Helping Animals and The Chisholm Trail blogs. To purchase or view that and other recent paintings ( a good idea!) visit my online gallery, The Creative Spirit Gallery

Wolf Wildlife Acrylic Painting

Be sure to check out available artwork in my new Creative Spirit Gallery

Alpha

Wolf. The word evokes feelings of both terror and fascination. All sorts of human behavior has been attributed to this animal. We hear of the lone wolf, the wolf in sheep's clothing, the  infamous wolf whistle and the wolf at the door. Be careful of the wolf pack, and don't let anyone throw you to the wolves.  And of course the wolf is legendary not only for his spine tingling howl but for his relentless pursuit of the ladies.  Yet in spite of all his fame we really don't know much about him and it may be  that very lack of understanding which serves to perpetuate his myth. In truth, he isn't that much different from other animals. His focus is survival, which includes he search for food and protection from harm. Like many of us he is a carnivore, but  while humans will often purchase their meat from stores, he has to hunt his own.  Unfortunately the wolf can not recognize any difference between an elk and a domestic cow or sheep. Neither does he understand the concept of a loving pet yet he is believed to be the ancestor of our domesticated dogs. We have all seen similarities both in the appearance and behaviors of wolves and dogs. But in some ways they also resemble us. Wolves run in packs which might be said are similar to human families. They hunt, live and eat together just like a family, they work and even play together and they protect each other. Who is to say whether or not the bonds that hold them might be something akin to love?  I do not know and I don't believe anyone else really knows for sure, but I do know that he is a beautiful and breath taking animal, as are all of God's creatures, and he might have something to teach us if we would only listen.


This is an acrylic painting on stretched canvas 11 x 14.  It and other paintings are available through The Creative Spirit Gallery, my online gallery.  Click on the link to visit.

http://dellartistgallery.blogspot.com

Family Portrait Graphite Drawing Commission

"Family isn't the most important thing. Family is everything."  Michael J. Fox

This is one of my favorite family group commissions. The photos, taken during the 1940's, fascinated me not only because of the era they portrayed, but also because of the beauty and vibrancy of the four young sisters. There is one sister still living who commissioned the portraits.  She asked me to copy a special poem titled "Sisters" in the center of the drawing.  It always blesses me to be able to create something that touches the heart and brings comfort to someone.  The two framed drawings are the parents, and the drawing of the four sisters had not yet been framed when this photo was taken. This is an informal snapshot and you can probably make out some of our framing tools in the background.

Webster defines family as "a group of people related to one another by blood or marriage,"or "a group consisting of parents and children living together in the same household." Although those words may attempt to define it, they do not begin to describe the magnificent, astonishing, and oftentimes volatile experience of living in a family group.  It is God's gift to humankind, and, like many of God's gifts, "family" is a growing experience.  As families are imperfect and, as they are made up of imperfect people, they are the perfect training ground for living in an imperfect world. There are times when we are the best of friends, other times we wonder what God was thinking when He put us all together.  We eventually grow up and some of us marry and begin the process all over again with families of our own.  Family ties are not static; they shift around to make room for more bonds - spouses, children, grandchildren but, whether we like it or not, they never completely disappear.  And that is the just the way God planned it. Because, as everyone who watches retro television knows, Father Knows Best - Our Heavenly Father, that is.
And Michael J. Fox is probably right!

Resurrection Day!!! Happy Easter!

My favorite Easter video!  A blessed Resurrection Day!

Little Girl in a White Dress

Little Lady in a White Dress

Watercolor, 10 x 14

Once upon a time, little girls dressed in pastel dresses and white shoes and pulled their hair up and they said "yes, ma'am and no, ma'am" and they played with baby dolls and were taught to speak only when they were spoken to.  In those days they were all expected to be good girls and never climb trees or get their clothes or faces dirty. They were supposed to do well in school and be ladylike at all times, and never argue or complain. They idolized people like Florence Nightingale or Eleanor Roosevelt or Jackie Kennedy and they hoped someday to marry a nice man and raise a houseful of kids. Other career options were somewhat limited, although eventually it was considered acceptable  to become a secretary, teacher or nurse. All the restrictions they experienced made them look and act pretty much alike.

Or so it seemed.  Those days were at the same time the good old days and the bad old days but they have disappeared forever.

Today little girls wear tee shirts and blue jeans or, for "dress up," brightly colored tops with tights or leggings, depending on the current trend. They have their own brands of lipstick and eyeshadow and  their ears and sometimes other body parts are pierced at a very early age.  They text and twitter continually, but can't write or speak a sentence that makes sense. Their hair can be any color of the rainbow and they don't have to comb it if they don't want to. They still don't climb trees much, but they do wrestle and play football and they don't particularly care if they get their clothes dirty because they want a new outfit anyway.  They speak pretty much whenever and whatever they want, and they don't have to listen to anybody. They have the opportunity to follow any dream they might have and become anything they want to be, but often don't set their sights much beyond Lady Gaga.  And, despite their freedom and individuality, they all still seem to look and act pretty much alike.

We've come a long way, Baby. But we still have a long way to go.

Funny, this isn't at all the blog I intended to write for this painting. Chalk it up to "mid-winter madness" and please accept my apologies.  It was intended to be a lovely, nostalgic piece about white dresses and summer and I planned on also reposting another painting, a pastel with a similar theme.  Think I will post it anyway, because it is one of my favorites.  By the way, Little Girl in a White Dress is a watercolor, 10 x 14. It is matted and ready to frame. It will be listed on Art Helping Animals, Daily Painters, Chisholm Trail Art and will be for sale in my Zibbet Shop.

Summertime