While cleaning out my studio and I ran across a piece that I did back in 2003. I can't remember what my inspiration at that time was for this particular piece however I do know how this piece makes me feel right now. Struggle and Strength. Everyday I struggle. I struggle with my child, my sister, my mom, my dad, my inner self, my job, my love, and the negativity that may surround me and things that I have no control over. Struggling is something that as I child growing up I was shielded from but knew all about. You see I was raised in a single parent home with a mother who struggled to survive but the strength of many men. She did this without my father's help to lift the burdens off her shoulders day after day. But not once did I ever see her cry or her anguish because she couldn't or didn't know how or when she would be able to get money to pay a bill or put food on the table. But the bills were paid and we were never hungry. You see my mother is a survivor. She shielded us from the struggles of her providing us with the everyday needs and wants. And everyday she did this with a smile on her face regardless of how heavy her heart was. As I got older and could see past the shield I realized how much my mother has struggled and sacrificed her needs and wants to provide me with a wonderful life. You she my mother is a Warrior. The word Love doesn't even carry enough meaning behind it to express how I feel about my mother. I just pray that I can grow to be the warrior that is She...

Okay enough of the reminiscing...

And back to the painting at hand. Each and every time I look at that picture it reminds me of Struggle, Strength, Love, Courage, Loyalty, and my Mommy. And now that I am raising a child of my own I pray that I have the type of strength that my mother had while raising me to endure whatever comes flying my way.

With that in mind this piece is entitled: * All Praise Up High*

watercolor 22 x28

FOUR=STAGNANT=RELEASE

My Lovestroke entitle
"Four=Stagnant=Release" has just been completed.

It took me quite a few days on this one.

I have been feeling somewhat stagnant is a variety of ways and my lack thereof led me to create this piece.

There have been "4" major things in my life that seem to have placed a hold on me and in my life in ways that "I" at times have no control over then at times I do. Right now I am trying to figure out how to rise from beneath the film covered water to make my way to a level of fresh air. Have you ever seen still water that has been sitting up for days and has this gross, grimy type of film covering the surface yet it is still transparent? And when looking into the water you may see various types of creatures that have inhabited the water and are squirming around as if they cannot figure out how to get out...

well... when I was painting this piece that's how I was feeling. A little overwhelmed, at lot stressed, trying to breathe...

Four=Stagnant=Release

22x24

22x24