Tuesday, February 08, 2011

Boat Study

Boat Study___6x8 oil on linen panel___for Caro and Don
Ahhh! I just enjoyed a WONDERFUL couple of days painting in Rockport, TX with a fabulous group of artists who let me pretend to teach them! As usual, we met at my favorite haunts..this demo was a quickie at the Cove Harbor Boatyard....I got home a few hours ago and went straight to a ball game. (It is now baseball season...the first scrimmage was tonight for the Round Rock High School Dragons! No pressure, guys, there were 4 pro scouts in the stands with their radar guns and note pads!)
Yes, this is what I would describe as a perfect day!
But it came after a very sad weekend. One of my great friends and the best boss I ever had died suddenly on Saturday. Susan Owen was the principal at Round Rock Christian Academy where I taught for 19 years. She was just a few years older than me, a YOUNG woman :)...even younger at heart! Her great gifts were gifts of the Spirit. If you ever wonder what Jesus was like, her name would be at the top of the list: Gracious, and FULL of real love and real grace and real mercy. And no one I know who knows her EVER saw her deviate from this type of goodness. Can you imagine having a boss whose door was ALWAYS open, and who ALWAYS was ready to hear you and to laugh or cry with you? And to watch her work with children was a work of art. Of course, being the principal, she often had little "law breakers" in her office. Susan had a way of correcting them with love and RESTORING these little renegades, rather than heaping on them with a guilt trip. They usually skipped away from her office, and were determined to do better just for Mrs. Owen!...I could go on and on, and I will miss her TERRIBLY...I hope you will meet someone like Susan some day.
I am sorry to be behind with e-mail replies...will catch up tomorrow

3 comments:

Douglas Clark said...

I was missing your paintings! This one is very nice. Makes me wish I was at the coast. We got more ice and snow last night.

Nancy Hawkins said...

This painting is so wonderfully done. using a few harmonizing colors that describe so much. Thank you for also sharing about the extra demension in your life with Jesus.

Douglas Clark said...

Just now had the chance to read your post. I must confess the first time I just focused on the painting. I am very sorry for your loss but know how blessed you were to get to work with someone like that for that long. I believe she must have felt the same about you. I've seen how you encourage and motivate your adult students, I can just imagine how you were with children.