Giving Thanks

Light on the Lake (Sold)

Fall is my favorite time of year. Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, I welcomed the change of colors in the trees, the crisp air and the rows of puffy clouds marching across the sky. I was not pleased to go back to school but even then, Fall still captured my soul. In California, Autumn arrives later. While other areas in the Mid West and East have already had snow, here in LA, only now are the leaves changing color and falling to the ground.

My family rarely celebrated with a big Thanksgiving dinner since my mother was a waitress and always worked that day, but there were always leftovers brought home after her shift. We enjoyed the turkey, stuffing and gravy for several days after the fact and I have good memories of those times. Hunting season opened and my father would go hunting for wild turkey and deer. My mom dreaded the season since he was sure to bring home a turkey to pluck or venison steaks to cook from the deer he would bring home on the hood of his car. As the baby of the family with 3 brothers and 1 sister, I always got to be one of the two who competed for the wish but it always seemed they were the ones who walked away with the bigger half of the wishbone.

This has been an amazing year with increased sales, acceptance in the Oil Painters of America National Show, an award at the Carmel plein air competition, two articles in American Art Collector Magazine and having my work accepted into a gallery in Carmel. I have a lot to be thankful for. I hope that you have much to be grateful for too and that you will be spending the day celebrating with those you love. Happy Thanksgiving.