My Timeout

The Wrestler

Colored Pencil drawing

SOLD

Sometimes when life gives you lemons, you just can't make lemonade. Instead you just have to pucker up and learn to deal with a very bitter, sour taste for a while. Which is what I have been doing for the past week or so; hence my lack of blogginess.

My son, who posed for the Wrestler, has decided to enlist and did so last week. He will be leaving for training two days before Thanksgiving. (Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out......)

Coping with his decision has been and is such a turmoil of emotions for me and therefore, has made it very difficult to be creative right now. Solitude is so necessary for an artist to create unless your mind is racing; then being alone is not good. Not good at all.

As in some of my past posts, I have shared that I have a huge need for control and order in my life. So, when things are completely out of my control, I clean, purge and organize. Trust me, you don't want to talk to me when I am dealing with difficult emotions, but you do want to turn me lose in your house! I have cleaned out closets, my studio, organized my pantry, kitchen cabinets and given away old items I no longer need. I have had to stay very, very busy, but not quiet.

My son has always been a warrior, I guess. He always dressed up as an "army guy" even when very small; he still gets together with other grown men to play paintball for hours and hours. This is something he has always wanted to do. One half of me would change this in him; the other half would never do that. But, I am beginning to deal with his decision a little bit better each day and expect to be making more work soon. So stay with me. I'll keep you posted. Here's how I've been feeling lately and I hope you can understand.

"Torment"

Colored Pencil Drawing

Available

Lima Company Memorial

Last night I attended a local art league meeting where a wonderful artist from Westerville, Ohio, Anita Miller, spoke about plein air painting in Europe. She was funny, energentic and had lots of good ideas. Typical artist presentation.

Until she told us about her latest project to memorialize the 23 young men from Lima Company who were killed in Iraq in 2005. In October of that year, Anita woke from a dream to create this memorial. She is painting a life-sized portrait of each young man on 8 mobile panels.

Anita has the support of the soldiers' families and the Marine Corp, but she has no formal funding. Her faith in a higher power has moved her toward her goal with each need being met by the generosity of others.

Anita has assembled a team to help her complete this project and with their help, she hopes to be able to have it on display by late 2007.

Those who know me well, know that I have never been in favor of this war. However, like most in my position, we do care and support the young men and women who serve. I have a 20 year old son whom I adore. I can not begin to imagine the pain and loss these families and comrades have and do deal with daily.

Anita says this memorial is for the moms, dads, brother, sisters, grandparents and all relative of these boys. But most importantly, to also honor their brothers in arms from Lima Company who are still suffering from this war.

Check out her websites at www.limacompanymemorial.org and www.theartistsroost.com.