The Splendor of Fall

"The Splendor of Fall"

12" x 12" 

in Oil on Museum Quality Panel

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Have you ever witnessed such beauty in death as when the Fall leaves change color? What a magnificent display to behold! The vibrant colors swirling about as the breeze carries the leaves gently to their resting place. I am awed and amazed every year when Fall rolls around and then again in Spring when life begins anew. God is definitely the master artist in my book! 

Ecclesiasties 3:1-8

 To every thing there is a season, and time to every purpose under the heaven:A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.    

When I look at this scripture, I am reminded of how fleeting life really is. As I live more years, I am amazed at how fast each second, minute, hour, day, week, month and year passes. As the seasons continue to change, remember to make the most of your time.

: )

"Joy Ride"

"Joy Ride"

in Oil on Museum Quality Panel

10" x 8"

$145.00

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Who doesn't love the thrill and excitement of riding the carousel?

One of the most visited attractions in Spokane welcomes all ages to feel like a kid again and take a ride on the famous and historic Looff Carousel.  This fun and favorite attraction creates and brings back memories.   

Riverfront Park’s 1909 Looff Carousel is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of America’s most beautiful and well preserved hand-carved wooden carousels. The Looff Carousel proudly features 54 horses, 1 giraffe, 1 tiger, and 2 Chinese dragon chairs and still has a brass ring to catch. If your lucky enough to catch the brass ring, you win a free ride!

This is another painting featuring the "best of Spokane". I've added a short clip of the Looff Carousel as a reminder that summer is just around the corner!

: )

Monroe Street Bridge

Monroe Street Bridge

in Oil on Museum Quality Panel

12" x 12"

$165

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I'm currently working on a series of paintings featuring the "Best of Spokane" for an upcoming exhibit. This is a night scene of the Monroe Street Bridge, which is an arch bridge that spans the Spokane River downtown. The bridge was built in 1911 and at that time it was the largest concrete-arch bridge in the United States and the third longest in the world! I just love the  architecture of this bridge, it is definitely a work of art and adds so much ambiance to the downtown scene. 

I'm including a daytime image of the entire bridge so you can appreciate it's beauty. : )

Have a wonderful evening!

  

Duncan Gardens

"Duncan Gardens"

 Oil on Canvas

48" x 24"

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One of my favorite places to spend time during the summer is on a park bench overlooking Duncan Gardens. It is so amazingly beautiful it's overwhelming. I love to watch the people strolling along the paths...some walking their dogs, some with kids, who can't help but pick a flower, and others just walking hand in hand. Many times you will see wedding parties all dressed up taking photos. One year on the morning of our anniversary, Bob and I picked up some lattes and arrived at the park just in time to watch the sun rise over the trees...it was so peaceful. On another occasion we enjoyed a gourmet dinner with family, as the Spokane Symphony performed in the garden. Somehow it just seems that formal gardens and classical music fit perfectly together. 

There is a grassy hill alongside the stairs leading down into the garden, which is the perfect spot to lay out a blanket. Our daughter likes to start at the top of the hill and roll down to the bottom over and over again. She talked me into rolling down with her once last year...she was very surprised when I actually agreed to do it and afterward said "Wow! You never see moms do that!" She gave me the cool mom of the day award, which was totally worth that moment of awkwardness. : )

I'm so excited that Spring is on the way! Looking forward to another gorgeous season at the park and all of the wonderful memories it brings. 

Have a wonderful day friends!

Man's Best Friend

"Man's Best Friend"

24" x 18"

Oil on Museum Quality Panel

Private Collection

This commissioned painting is going to be a gift from the client to her husband for Father's Day. He is a civil war buff and she wanted to include the cannon, her husband, and their dog in the painting. The challenge; however, was to compose this piece from separate photographs! She was trusting my judgment, so with no direction, I was nervously hoping I could convey what she had in mind. Since I was basically at liberty to do whatever I pleased, I decided to throw in the "pup" tent and flag for added effect. Then I held my breath and crossed my fingers waiting for her response. 

Thankfully, (huge sigh of relief), she loved it! : )

I decided to title the painting "Man's Best Friend" because as I sat thinking about war and all the reasons humans fight...power, freedom, justice, money etc. the truth is, no one really "wins" when you realize what was "lost" to gain that victory. Where humans can be fueled by emotions such as hatred, revenge and betrayal, a dog on the other hand is all about unconditional love and loyalty. Regardless of our flaws, a dog will stick by it's owner's side with heartfelt devotion until the day they die.  

Below are some interesting quotes from famous people on the topic of war:

“Lest I keep my complacent way I must remember somewhere out there a person died for me today. As long as there must be war, I ask and I must answer was I worth dying for?” 

― Eleanor Roosevelt

“All wars are civil wars because all men are brothers... Each one owes infinitely more to the human race than to the particular country in which he was born.” 
― François Fénelon

“It is not enough to win a war; it is more important to organize the peace.” 
― Aristotle

“I am afeard there are few die well that die in battle, for how can they charitably dispose of anything when blood is their argument?” 
― William Shakespeare, Henry V

“We are going to have peace even if we have to fight for it.” 
― Dwight D. Eisenhower

“The parties with the most gain never show up on the battlefield.” 
― Naomi Klein, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism

“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” 
― Winston Churchill

“It is the oldest ironies that are still the most satisfying: man, when preparing for bloody war, will orate loudly and most eloquently in the name of peace.” 
― Alan Moore, Watchmen

“In Peace, Sons bury their Fathers. In War, Fathers bury their Sons.” 
― Herodotus

“I love the name of honor, more than I fear death” 
― Julius Caesar

“Once you hear the details of victory, it is hard to distinguish it from a defeat.” 
― Jean-Paul Sartre

“I don't remember Moses writing, 'Thou shalt not kill.. unless you think you have a good reason.” 
― Willie Nelson, The Tao of Willie: A Guide to the Happiness in Your Heart

“If we don't end war, war will end us.” 
― H.G. Wells

“War is not the answer, for only love can conquer hate” 
― Marvin Gaye

Have a beautiful day friends...and don't forget to show your dog some love! : )

I Think I Can

"I Think I Can"

in Oil on Museum Quality Panel

18"x 14"
Private Collection

Click here to purchase a print of this image.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I started this painting almost a year ago but it never felt quite right, so I tucked it away. Yesterday I decided to dig it back out and give it another go. This is a painting of one of my sweethearts Evelyn. It was her very first day riding her bike without training wheels. As you can see she was quiet nervous, but dad did a great job of giving directions. They had already been practicing when I arrived at the park and she was so excited to show me what daddy had taught her. As I pulled out the camera she said "Watch this mom!" and hopped on the bike. She got off to a wobbly start, then got it under control. She circled around and I was cheering away while snapping photos. As I looked over at dad he was choked up with pride, it was one of those unforgettable moments. Until the next moment when I looked back at Evie and...BAM...she had smacked right into a tree! It was like a record coming to a screeching halt. I ran over to ask if she was okay and she said "Yep, I'm fine.", "Dad told me to stop like that if I needed to." Apparently my husbands first bike didn't have brakes, so this was the alternate method of stopping! Of course he did tell her that using her brakes was the best method and should always be the first choice in stopping the bike. : )

Wishing all of you a wonderful day filled with LOVE for your family and friends!

"I'm Doing It!"

"The Tree"

"Happy Ending"

Summer Paddle

"Summer Paddle"

in Oil on Museum Quality Panel

14" x 11"

SOLD

The 30 day challenge ended last week and this is my first post challenge painting. After being away from home for two weeks I needed a bit of time to unpack and re-group. 

This painting is for my father-in-law's upcoming 70th birthday, (sssshhhh...it's a surprise!) This is one of his custom built canoes and they were christening it with a paddle around the lake. He is quite a talented fellow, as he has built several beautiful homes, canoes, and also takes special requests for custom knives on a regular basis. Not to mention the various projects like furniture, gazebos, and pretty much whatever you can think of. 

He tried to steal the painting I made for my husband's birthday, so I thought I should give him one of his own. : )

Happy Birthday Papa Brewer!!!