Glorious Day

Looking forward to better days

Well, isn’t this a treat! My painting won Best of Show at the Summerville Artist Guild 49th Annual Judged Exhibition. I entered it in the North Charleston Art Fest and Charleston Artist Guild shows last year and won an Honorable mention for it in each show.

This image was inspired by a photo of my brother in law and his daughter at Randy’s and my wedding. Brian, the best man, scooped Amanda, our flower girl, up in his arms for a dance. The smiles on their faces showed two people full of joy and so pleased to be with each other in that moment. Gone too soon, Amanda passed away tragically at 20. Then two Thanksgivings ago, Brian was taken. Both Brian and Amanda had many struggles in this life. As we mourned the passing of Brian, I kept seeing an image of him reuniting with his oldest daughter in heaven. I wanted to paint it and give it to my mother in law.

I love the judges comments about it being a good piece and I appreciate that he acknowledged the risk of cutting up a painting and putting it back together. It is actually two paintings cut into strips and then woven together. I like to do this technique to create an idea rather than an actual set image.

Honestly, I was never quite satisfied with this painting. I set out to create an image that only God could see in heaven. I wanted to capture the reuniting of two loved ones who left this earth too soon and the joy they would experience as they greeted each other face to face in heaven. I was thinking I might try again with a new painting and see if it was more successful. In the meantime I entered it in three shows and got really great feedback. Now I will try to accept that it is good enough to send to it’s intended home. I love you, Helen, and I hope you like your painting.