Blog

You don’t know until it’s gone. She was a dear friend, a friend in art, my neighbor who would critique my artwork, what she loved or didn’t care for, I miss all of it. Now there is one less voice in my world, one less person to share my art with, an empty space where there used to be a force of nature and lover of art. A true example of the phrase “It’s not the years in your life, but the life in your years.”

She would come over to see artworks in person and just bought a painting on a Friday, then passed away that Sunday. I am standing here with her check in my hand, but I can’t cash it, she’s not here to enjoy her painting. So I’ve attached her check to the sketch board hanging behind my easel to remind me that it’s not about the volume of paintings in life, but the life in our paintings.

life in our paintings - a phrase I’m embracing in my recent work-in-progress, starting with a sketch that reveals a first impression, subject and design. I sat here staring at the blood pressure machine thinking I can’t do this without painting, then walked over and grabbed a handful of brushes and dropped them in the cuff. Ahhhhh, that’s better, no pressure! Ha-ha!

I hope to continue my blogs, but the words don’t quite find the page these days so I paint.

Thank you for allowing me to bring art into your life. Your support is such a pleasure and continues to bring inspiration.

It is a good day to paint.

Rachelle Lima