There is nothing like the love of two sisters.  This is my mother and aunt.  Mom moved from Ely, MN to Mpls., MN this summer and this was one of her last days spent in the same home town with her sister.  They lived in this same town all their lives and never moved away from each other.  Now, mom lives 4 hours north of her sister in Minneapolis.  Mom was very sad to leave her sister.  I know she misses her terribly so I painted this as a loving memory for mom for Christmas.  It was painted from a photo I snapped in a passing moment this past summer.  It was not planned; in fact, I think I took it with my phone!  It just hit me as a sweet memory I think they will always cherish!  I didn't copy it or project it, as someone asked me; I just drew it on the canvas with vine charcoal and did an underpainting and then finalized it with oils.  I think it is good to practice your drawing skills this way and is the only way to do some portraits because the person is not available or your memory needs to be preserved and was snapped with a camera or phone in a moment, spontaneously.   Perhaps this preserved memory is something my daughter and her children and my aunt and her children and so forth down the line will enjoy one day.  The word "legacy" is befitting of this precious moment preserved in oils.

Today, January 4, 2012, mom is coming for a visit.  She flew from Minneapolis., Minnesota where her new/summer home is to Zephryhills, FL where she has a second/winter home and is then coming to stay with me for a few days here in Orlando, Florida.  I am going to give this painting to her and I know she will be so happy.  I can't wait to see her and I can't wait to give this to her.  I wonder what her reaction will be?

This painting is a memory I, too, have of my visit to Ely, Minnesota.  This is also my home town that I grew up in.  Notice the house in the background.   Everyone has houses similar to this in this small town of 3500 people.  This town is the gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and is on the border of Canada and Minnesota.  This past summer I went up to help mom get settled in her new surroundings.  I got to see my aunt as well and I snapped this photo real quick while we were there briefly because we spent most of our time at mom's new home in Minneapolis where I painted a mural after Thomas Kinkaid that she liked for her in her new abode.   So sweet!

See, here is the photo and the painting side by side.  You can tell I did not copy it because it is perfectly imperfect! 

I think mom and her sister look a tiny bit younger in the painting as well.  I guess you'd say their youth has been renewed like the eagle's!  

This reminds me of Psalm 103:2-5.  Let me digress for a moment and give glory to the ultimate Creator who gives us our gifts and does just that for us!

"Praise the LORD, my soul, 
   and forget not all his benefits— 
³ who forgives all your sins 
   and heals all your diseases, 
⁴ who redeems your life from the pit 
   and crowns you with love and compassion, 
⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things 
   so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.  

(emphasis mine)

May all your memories made this new year be happy and filled with JOY!

Love and blessings,

Laura

P.S.  Speaking of mom and Minnesota, I found a picture of the mural I painted for mom's dining area in her new condo in Minneapolis this summer as well.  It was so fun to be able to add a little atmosphere and warmth to her new place during my stay with her. This is after Thomas Kinkaid, the painter of light.  Mom likes his paintings.  Maybe someday I will be as successful as he is.   Woo hoo!  Regardless, I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying the process of growth and the freedom that comes from living your passion.  I think we should take what God gives us and RUN WITH IT!    That, my friends, is what it's all about!  Enjoy!   :)