Be Inspired

Dogwood Blossoms: The Dogwood Blossoms painting was inspired by the legend that the dogwood tree was used for the cross on which Christ was crucified. The dogwood flower has petals (bracts really) that are in the shape of a cross, two long and two short with the center representing the crown of thorns. The holes at the petals’ edges remind one of the nail prints in Christ’s hands.

For the Last Gardner in Aleppo: I was inspired by a news article I saw on television one evening in August 2016. It told about a gardener and his thirteen year old son who lived and worked in a garden nursery in the center of Aleppo. Every day they tended to the flowers and in spite of continuing bombing, they constantly rebuilt what was destroyed.

They planted their flowers in public spaces like roundabouts. The roses still bloomed and people came to buy them and take them to patients in the hospital. He believed there was no greater beauty than flowers and that those who see flowers enjoy the beauty of the world created by God. He commented that flowers nourish the heart and soul. Six weeks after the interview, the garden was bombed and the father died. His name was Abu Wad which translates to “father of the flowers."

"Bo and Bud" was a commission for two Boston terriers. Each dog looked better in a different photograph so the problem was how to make two different photos work together. The owner reminded me that because of their color and markings the Boston terriers are known as the “American Gentlemen.”

The fact that Bo (on the left) was already wearing a bowtie inspired me to use that theme adding a bowtie to Bud and using a top hat and cane to compete the scenario. To show the dogs’ personalities images of their favorite toys and treats were included in the painted collage.

Alexander e Great Gelato: Florence was one stop on a trip to Italy. There were many stops at different shops to find the best gelato. What a challenge! Alexander thought this mint chocolate chip gelato was one of the best.