Saturday, October 24, 2009

A New Piece begun and a Final Thank You

First of all, let me say- It's good to be back and finally getting a bit of painting done. I'll post the piece I worked a bit on while on our trip when my mini painting friend Gail and I got together to talk art and later on I'll post the piece I just finished today that has been calling to me for weeks now!



This is Gail and I during our visit. We had a great time, while our husbands spent their time cooking ribs over the fire and generally just waiting for us to quit painting and talking! :-)




I had my mom here for several days. She has alzheimers and has progressed to the point of constantly thinking I am her sister, not sure who I am when I tell her I'm her daughter, and not sure how many children she had (I'm "it"). This is difficult to deal with as I'm sure you'll understand. She did have a couple of "good" days and even though I thought I "should" be painting I decided to play my piano for her. I believe it will be the last time I'll get to do that and she will know who I am and what I am doing for her. She sat and listened and enjoyed, and I played (with tears in my eyes) thinking- "This is my thank you for putting up with all the "----" I gave you when you made me practice". If it weren't for her I wouldn't be able to play. I was generally an easy child to raise, but that was one area I was awful with a capital A! I bless her every day that I play for that gift she gave me, and this was my final thank you to her. I have a piano student who played for her grandmother and then at her grandmother's funeral. I don't know how she did it- I couldn't I know. So I am thankful the Lord gave me this final chance.
Thus, I still haven't painted as much as I would have liked, but it is a start and hopefully now that I'm done traveling for awhile and mostly back to normal health I can get back into the "swing" of things.


The piece I am posting is in casein, as Gail wanted me to show her how casein and gouache work/paint. Personally I find them to be like painting with the same paint, just that casein is permanent when cured, gouache is not. It was great fun to have someone to paint with for once and I wish I could do it more often.

6 comments:

Mona Diane Conner said...

Carol, I'm sorry to hear about your mom's illness - it must be so tough, but it's so lovely too about your piano concert for her.

Glad to know you are feeling better and that you and Gail enjoyed your time together.

Barbara A. Freeman said...

Carol, looks like you have a great start on a new work. I'm looking forward to seeing it. Great to have you well and back to painting and blogging.

That was a touching post on your Mom and how you are spending the time together. I can only imagine how difficult it must be. The best to you both!

Carol Andre' said...

Thanks Mona and Barbara. It is difficult, but at the same time there are some compensations. My daughters and I realized that we only had so much time (we all KNOW that, but it takes something drastic to make us actually DO something and not put things off). Because of that we did something we had "planned" to do for awhile- we took a girls trip over a weekend. We made some wonderful memories that we will always cherish. And because of this disease I've said "I love you" to my parents often, and I played that piano for mom. Things we all should do all the time, but don't for some reason. I am trying to do things now so that I don't look back and say "I wish..." So there are some blessings even in the dark clouds. We just have to look for them.
I hope the puppy turns out. I never quite trust myself! So far so good. I worked on her today, it takes sooo long to do one of these tiny little pieces!

Debra Keirce said...

I hope your mom is having a great day, and glad to hear you are feeling better too Carol! I've never painted with cassein. So many media - so little time!

Italo said...

Dear Carol, a kiss to your mother.
You are a sweet person.
PS: The piece is very nice, but with you beauty is something normal!

Carol Andre' said...

Deb, thanks- and believe me I know how you feel about mediums. I seem to love them all!!!
Italo- thank you so much dear Italian friend. What a sweetie you are. :-) A kiss back to your mother as well. We'll see how the painting turns out!