Reflections - SOLD

Acrylic on 9x12 canvas panel

Available through DPW gallery/auction

I chose to paint this much earlier this past week. I liked the challenge of the reflections everywhere, the ornaments & their roundness and colors, the pearl beads and the crocheted doily. And I also thought it might spark me a bit into the holiday spirit - with Christmas a week away, I was really having trouble finding my spirit. I wasn't sure why but for some reason, this year just felt "different" and I was having a very hard time mustering up that holiday cheer. 

I started this painting on Thursday night, sketching the areas I wanted to focus on (reflections can get very busy so I wanted to be selective with things in this). Friday I had off from work and I thought I would spend the day happily painting this, and my holiday spirit would abound. But Friday did not happen that way.

With the news Friday morning of the horror in Newtown CT, I sat on the edge of the bed only to hear more and more as the events unfolded. I went numb, my heart actually hurt, and I am still - 3 days later - moved to tears by this awful situation. I can't for the life of me comprehend how this happens, how the deranged mind of the "Boogie Man" (I will not give the killer the recognition he probably believed he would get, by using his name) can so easily take away the precious life of others. These small children - so innocent - did not expect this, they did not ask for it, and they certainly didn't deserve this. And those parents who lost them, I can't even fathom going back to their home - with either the Menorah or Christmas Tree & the presents. So hard, so sad.

I finished this painting today and am posting it now. Throughout all of this, I did find the meaning of Christmas. And I did find a bit of my spirit, although it is a bit subdued. The meaning of Christmas is simply Love. Love the ones close to you & hug your children please. Because there are boogie men out there and they can change everything in only an instant.