Soldier/Dogs

Soldier/Dogs

11"x 14"

Acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I finished a commission for a client who has a lot of veterans come work for him. He offers them jobs because they have a hard time finding them elsewhere. My client shared some amazing stories with me, and I was surprised and touched to learn about the importance of the relationship between dog and soldier:
   "One of the key themes my guys tell me coming home is that dogs helped get them through the war. These guys credit the dogs with saving their lives. I never would have guessed that to be the case, but it was. I never realized it until someone came into my office and commented that there were dogs with all of my boys in the pictures I had on my desk." 

Listening to while I paint:

Audio-books: "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell. Read by the author.

Podcasts:
              "Wait, Wait.... Don't Tell Me!" hosted by Peter Sagal
               Here's The Thing, hosted by Alec Baldwin
               Social Media Examiner, by Michael Stelzner
               The Splendid Table by Lynne Rosetto Kasper
               Artist Helping Artist by Leslie Saeta
Music: my iPod

                 

Stroke Update - "Not Leaving"

Rose Bush
11"x 14"
acrylic on gessoboard
$375
Click here to purchase

"The Book Thief", an audio book by Markus Zusak, takes place in the fictional town of Molching, Germany between 1939 and 1943. Often, a little girl in that town had nightmares and her Poppa, would come to her in the middle of the night and "not leave" her alone.....

A quote from the book:

                "A definition not found in the dictionary, 'not leaving'; an act of trust and love often deciphered by children."

I cried when I first heard this because, ever since my stroke, I've had to depend on people "not leaving" me. Everything I do, driving, walking and especially my one armed reverse double flip hand springs (just kidding!), requires having them near me.   

There have been many people in my life who are "not leaving": acquaintances, friends, 

but most of all my family. :)

Listening to while I paint:

Audiobook: The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell, read by the author

Podcasts: The Nerdist, by Chris Hardwick

                 Social Media Examiner, by Michael Stelzner

              Artist Helping Artist, by Leslie Saeta

                 Oh So Pinteresting, hosted by Cynthia Sanchez

Music: my iPod

NY City

NY City

12"x 12"

acrylic on gessoboard

$375

Click here to purchase

This was a challenge for Daily Paintworks. 

I haven't been to New York since I was 11? ... I remember this one thing... my family and I were sitting at this cafe and this homeless man walked up to us and asked us for change. I smiled at him, with my mouth full of braces and he smiled back, removed his teeth, and said, 

"take care of them"! :)

Listening to while I paint:

Audio books:  "Someday, Someday, Maybe", by Lauren Graham read by the author

Podcasts: The Nerdist, by Chris Hardwick

                Social Media Examiner, by Michael Stelzner

                     The Splendid Table by Lynne Rosetto Kasper

                    Artist Helping Artist by Leslie Saeta

Music: my iPod