Yes, I am rather late with this post, but Thanksgiving (even though it was last week) is a season, in my opinion, not just one day, that we should be thankful. I have been busy with a few commissions for Christmas, and have been fighting what I thought was allergy/sinus issues for over a week. However, on Thanksgiving night, a severe cold hit and needless to say my weekend has strictly been some much needed rest and hot tea with numerous herbal remedies. Finally on the mend now, so I thought I might write a post on what I am grateful for.
I am always grateful for the love and support of my family and friends, who are my constant cheerleaders. They really help out when I need it, doing everything from helping to set up at shows, assisting when I just need an extra hand, to critiquing my work. I asked my brother one time what he thought of a sketch I had done for a watercolor painting of a cutting horse and cow. I loved his honesty when he stated, “Why is that horse chasing a deer?” Made me re-examine my sketch and yes, I erased the cow and started over.
I am also thankful for my clients, who not only help support my artistic habit, but also have become good friends, even if over long distances. I guess I am thankful too for technology, as it has opened up a way to connect with clients farther away, even overseas. It is an awesome experience. My clients also push me in a sense that I learn something new in each piece of artwork I create, and to them I am grateful for the opportunity.
Not only am I thankful for the support my clients give, but also for the stories I am privileged to have them share with me. One client had me do a portrait of her husband’s beloved mixed breed dog, a true Heinz 57 as we like to call them. She related to me a story that happened shortly after they had gotten Flint, who used to make a warfle like noise.
They were at a dinner with their priest and other parishioners when someone asked one of the couples in attendance how the season had gone with their registered show dogs. With great flair and exuberance, they elaborated the wonderful show season the dogs had that year, inserting their registered names at every chance. The priest then asked my clients how it was going with their new dog. He is a great dog, they replied, not really wanting to elaborate that he was a mixed breed. Then the owners of the show dogs asked what breed he was, and what was his name? My client’s husband who has a wonderful love for humor, stated that he was a one of a kind Czechoslovakian Sport Spaniel, (no, there is no such breed) and his name was Flint Warfle I. The show dog owners were quite impressed, as was the priest. For Christmas that year, the priest gave them a blank photo album. On the cover he had inscribed, “The Complete History of The Czechoslovakian Sport Spaniel”.
I also loved the story this fall from a man who collects spoons. I had my booth set up at the Art On The Fly Fest in Fly, Tennessee, and a gentleman and his wife came in to look around. He noticed my painted spoons and asked if I had any that said ‘Oneida’ on them. I knew I had at one time, but I wasn’t sure if they had sold or not. He started to browse through them and immediately came upon three miniature spoons and said “Yes, these are Oneida”.
Upon looking at the backs, they were stamped ‘Oneida’ and he said he would take them. He was happy that they said ‘Love, Joy, and Peace’ in a Christmas theme as they were going on his “Spoons” themed Christmas tree. He said he had worked 34 years at the Oneida Silverware company in New York, and every chance he got he would purchase Oneida spoons that an artist had worked on. He was so happy to get them, and I was honored to have them placed on his tree!
I am also thankful for the people who look at my art and are appreciative of it, even if they aren’t able to purchase anything. My last show this fall a young woman and her friend entered my booth to browse. She was really impressed with my work and we chatted about the wonderful weather we were having so late in October. I mentioned I liked her shirt, and she replied that she had purchased it at a store on the base she was stationed at. Wow, she really didn’t look much out of high school, I thought, but she had done a tour and was leaving out again the following week and wanted to go to college when she returned. I am thankful for her service even more than her appreciation of my art. God bless Katelynn!
Finally, I am thankful to the almighty God Who gave me what talent I have, and am honored to do it for His glory. Truly, I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. I pray you have had a wonderful Thanksgiving season, and hope you have a blessed week ahead!
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