Holding on to Paradise

I riffling through a stack on my desk and came across a photo of littlest kitten. I thought about her. I thought about how perfectly perfect and lovely she is, and how I want to hold onto this part of her life, where everything is beautiful and exciting and innocent. 

I wanted to paint that innocence on the verge of growing up. She's holding a peach. A peach can be a symbol for immortality, or maybe the forbidden fruit or maybe just something sweet and precious.  I painted her at dusk, my favorite time where one day is about to turn into another. 

I'm getting excited for my show in Cannon Beach. This painting and all but two little paintings are on their way.  I hope to see people I've met there again. That's the best part!

Lily of the Valley

It's interesting that the plant, lily of the valley, is dangerous and yet it has powerful healing properties as well. I like that tension. I just sent this painting to a gallery called Picture This in Alberta for their annual miniature show.
Many times I have painted to vent and purge. This painting is about healing. I started it shortly after I started to try to detox my studio and body. I don't want to wallow in sickness, I just want to get better. I like the calmness in this painting.

Note to Kate: take this one or wait, there are more coming.

It was created at the turn of the century. It's hand painted on copper. I have been fascinated by all of the intricate details. It has a bit of a finger print on the painting and that made me wonder about who painted it. When Dan gave it to me, the night before mother's day because he couldn't wait, he told me how he interpreted the symbolism and it was as beautiful as the necklace.

On one side is the virgin holding a candle and child. The saint depicted on the other side is Uriel. Uriel "stands at the Gate of Eden with a fiery sword," or as the angel who "watches over thunder and terror."