This Mother's Day I spent some time reflecting on the gifts my mother has given me. Various memories from childhood came to mind~ I saw my family at the breakfast table set with candles, fresh flowers, tea, orange slices and homemade buttermilk biscuits. Over a leisurely breakfast my mom and I would share our dreams from the night before. This early sharing led me to a lifelong connection to my dreams, a frequent source of inspiration for my art. I also remember my mother showing me how to hold an orange slice up to the light so that it glistened like a miniature stained glass window.
So much of my artistic sensibility comes from my mom, who is also an artist. I grew up watching her create beautiful hand-cut paper murals for the Children's Room at the public library, and develop her own line of greeting cards. Art supplies were always available for me in a little station in our kitchen so I could draw while she cooked.
When I was ten, my family moved to northern Virginia, and we often visited the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. I vividly remember seeing an exhibit of Georgia O'Keeffe's evocative watercolors~ Images of undulating southwestern landscapes, larger-than-life flowers, and impressionistic cloud sky-scapes. A Henri Matisse exhibit also stands out as an early influence~ His exuberant use of color; confident, playful brushstrokes, and cut paper collages are still fresh in my mind.
Through my mom's dedication to her art, the beautiful home she kept, and exposing me from an early age to art of all sorts, she nurtured my artistic path, but even more importantly, she showed me how to notice and appreciate the simple beauty in everyday life.
This new greeting card is dedicated to her~
I love you MG!
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