Living life with passion!!!

Several years ago I was at a festival in Bellbuckle Tennessee when I spotted a beautiful travel bag through the window of a shop. I'm so glad I had to have it since I've enjoyed it for many years.  I knew nothing of the designer until I researched her later.  This precious lady has since passed away from a rare bone disease.  I dare you not to be challenged to live your life with more passion as you watch this video as she describes the excitement she brought to her life.  Please join me as we allow ourselves to be more creative and follow what we dream of doing.  

Purple Hydrangeas 12' x 12' LainesRiversideArt.com

Recently Crystal Green from Pulaski, Tennessee asked me to paint an example of purple hydrangeas for a group of court reporters to paint while at a conference in Montgomery Bell Park near Dickson Tennessee.  In their free time the men golf while the women paint.
I've painted with these women the last two years and look forward to seeing all of them again.  They are crazy talented and a ton of fun~!

"I Washin' Daddy's Car" 36" x 20' LainesRiversideArt.com

Chris when he first saw himself in the painting shown below.  He immediately told us it was him washing his Daddy's car.  Precious~!

  Once in a while a moment stops the clock.  For me this was just such a moment.  My little grandson Chris had grabbed the soapy rag from his Dad's bucket and declared "I wash it".  He was barely a year old and his dad Rick said it was the first time he had volunteered to do something other than eat, play, laugh, dance or whatever else little men in the making do.  When Rick showed me the picture it reminded me of the many times he and his brother Rodney had helped wash the family vehicles when they were little.

  Today only a year later Chris is tall enough to almost touch the mirror on the side of the car. How did he grow so much in only a year?  I love the way he is leaning into the car and giving it all his little arms could give.

"I Washin' Daddy's Car"
LainesRiversideArt.com

Prints will be available shortly.

"Riding High With Daddy" 48" x 24" in a private collection

Often artists are asked "why do you paint?"  While I can't answer for them, for me it often happens when I see something that I long to capture so I never forget how much I loved the moment.  The above painting was such a time.  My youngest son was walking through the woods with his one year old little boy (my youngest grandchild).   The baby got tired and needed a ride.  Rick picked him up and gave him the highest view.  My daughter in law Brandy began to snap photos so I wouldn't have to rely totally from memory.  You can see above the three stages that brought the completed work.  I call it "Riding High With Daddy".

If you have a photo you would love to see painted, enlarged and hanging in your home, please contact me.  

The photo below shows a close up of the completed painting. I had posted it around Christmas when I first thought it was finished.  It always felt incomplete. After seeing it now, I now know why~!

"I've Got My Red Dress On" 70" x 20" painted on paneled wood with 2.750" sides $1500. Laines Riverside Art

It's been a really fun day in my studio.  Everyone normally in my Tuesday class called in sick or were needed elsewhere...except Carolyn.  And boy did we have fun!  She's working on a beautiful Victorian painting that I'll post when she finishes it.  I had intended to demo part of the heavy texture techniques in this painting today for everyone.  When it was just the two of us I was able to finish it. ... Just in time for Valentine's gifting!  It's one of those pieces you really have to see in person to appreciate the many textured layers.  

"Early Fog" 36" x 12" Gallery Wrapped Canvas

I've admired techniques used in the Grisaille manor for a long time.  As I researched how to spell it I found what I had actually painted is called Brunaille.  The main difference between the two is Grisaille is using mostly grey tones and  http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunaille is mostly brown.  I may have to try the grey shades next.  When my daughter in law Brandy sent me a photo of Tina riding in the early morning I knew I had to try this method.  I cranked the music up and had a blast.  I have no doubt Brandy will be able to convince me with her big brown eyes why it needs to hang in their home. (it usually works on Rodney....wink) I really need to paint two paintings when painting my children and grandchildren....then just maybe I could enjoy them in my own home.  

The truth is I love that I can remind them of precious moments since those moments are where most of my favorite paintings come.

If you have a photo you would like to see in paint please contact me. 

"Good Morning" 30" x 30" Gallery Wrapped 1 1/2" $900.00 Laines Riverside Art Sold

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One of my favorite moments is when I get up in time to make the first foot prints through the sand at the water's edge.  Frequently I wade into the water so I can fully face the rising sun.  I often wonder if I would ever tire of this as a way to begin my day.

"Hope" 61" x 43" SOLD

I always wish the camera could show the texture more clearly. 

 Often I get to meet collectors who I really enjoy working with as we design a special painting for their home or office.

 Shortly after Thanksgiving I got to meet again and work with a woman who stole my heart.  When the phone rang I was thrilled to hear from her'  I remembered her being so nice as she had purchased two large paintings from me about a year ago.  She told me the story of her husband hanging them that evening when he got home. That same night he suffered a debilitating stroke that has changed both of their lives drastically.  She still works in her career by day and tends to his needs in the evenings.

 This woman's external beauty is only out shined by her kind and loving heart.  She said as she remembered that my husband had died suddenly (now almost four years ago) she felt a bond and asked if I would work with her to create a special painting to go over her garden tub. Unlike me she is very tall (I can only dream) so she sepecially wanted something with height. I went to her home to get a better feel of the style she enjoys.  As we looked through photos of paintings I had sold in the past she fell in love with one I called "Dreams" and asked if I could paint it much larger and reflect her color scheme.

What I wouldn't give if I had a video of her reaction when she first saw the finished painting.  When she said "that could be me" I knew I had accomplished my intentions.  I wanted her to be reminded how beautiful she is every time she looks at it.

 Mike Damico of "Damico Frame & Art Gallery" in Franklin not only did a beautiful frame, he also installed it for her.  Thanks Mike for a fabulous experience. He even reminded me how really short I must be when he asked me to reach a spot where one side would be hooked onto the wall.  I couldn't even reach it standing on my tiptoes.  I looked at the owner and she immediately stepped in with absolutely no effort to reach even beyond the hook. "I hope it makes God smile when I ask if in my next life could I be just a wee bit taller"? wink

This is the earlier paintings she had acquired.  They hang in the same area as her new painting. Her entire home reflects her love of art and all things beautiful.