I want to share my paintings of nuts and have thought of a few puns related to them:
Painting nuts got me “out of my shell” and I tried not to “crack up.” All those details made me “nuts.”
My paintings were commissioned assignments of illustrations that were used on labels. The smaller almonds were for a liqueur label, the peanut butter and mixed nut medleys were for a supermarket brand and the rest were created for a company named Azar Nuts.
I have a blog where I describe my technique and have a lot more information. It is at:
As an illustrator I painted many butterflies and my attachment to them is deep. Butterflies represent transformation, which is something that occurred in my life. I also view them as a beautiful metaphor for grief and death. I have mentioned butterflies in song lyrics for this reason. Below are more illustrations of butterflies and a few close-ups.
I also want to share an illustration of a honeybee.
My blog where I describe my technique with a lot more information is at:
I have a strong attachment to butterflies and years ago I created a series of butterfly paintings that were used on notecards. I am sharing only the Monarch butterfly illustrations here and I’ve included my layout and close-ups.
Art director’s notes and layout.
This is a male monarch because of the black spot on the lower wings.
When my art career began, I received an assignment to create eight paintings of seashells to be sold as prints. I am posting more images from that project. Below are my paintings and I have included some close-ups. Here is a link to: A SEASHELL MEDLEY – PART 1
When my art career began, I received an assignment to create paintings of seashells that would be sold as prints.
I was given the assignment after sharing the above painting with a publisher. I needed to come up with 8 paintings that were unique. He only requested that there weren’t any shells cropped off.
I made my paintings differ by the amount of seashells; there were a pair of single shells and two pairs of groups. Another pair of paintings even included driftwood with the seashells.
I loved the beautiful colors, textures and shapes of the seashells that I illustrated. I also ended up having a wonderful shell collection when I was finished. I share four of the posters here with some close-ups. For the sand, I splattered the paint with a toothbrush.
I have a blog where I describe my technique and have a lot more information. It is at:
One of my favorite paintings from my career as an illustrator was of a Snicker’s Bar. I admit that I nibbled on my samples after photographing them.
I had my painting printed on thousands of postcards, which I mailed all over the country. It was an excellent promotional piece because Art Directors always told me that it made them hungry.
My painting was created with watercolor dyes, before there was Photoshop. Some close-ups are below.
Below is my reference photo and tracing that were part of my working process as an artist.
I have a blog where I describe my technique and have a lot more information. It is at:
My lyrics in development. They were written with the fact that I knew my father was dying.
My song “Clear” was composed exactly one year ago.
I feel like my life is a musical. For three decades, I lived with a lot of sadness, but when I rediscovered my music and songwriting – I found joy again. My songs played throughout my day and told the story of my life.
My song Clear was particularly inspiring. I might have achieved the clarity I wrote about in my song, but it took far more than that to change my life.
Overcoming and letting go of fear was my greatest challenge. But I did it. I was able to move forward to change my life.
Wish me luck in 2013, as I embark on a new life. I am living on my own for the first time after ending my 31-year marriage.
I am excited to share another painting on 20 lines, which I’ve named Dessert Medley. Painting delicious food always intrigued me. The many colors that could be found in whipped cream (beyond white) were fun to discover. Dusted sugar and strawberry hives required a toothpick.
I always photograph my reference before painting them. I admit that choosing delicious food has advantages, because there are leftovers once I’ve taken my pictures!
My photo reference – not nearly as beautiful!
This painting was created with watercolor dyes, before there was Photoshop. Some close-ups are below.
I have a blog where I describe my technique and have a lot more information. It is at:
My song, “Alabaster Seashell” began with three simple stanzas I wrote when I was 17. I vaguely remembered only part of the melody for the “Alabaster Seashell.” But it was the beautiful chord progressions, which utilized a different guitar tuning, that enraptured me. I knew my song needed something more, but I had no idea how I was going to expand my song about a seashell. I started to experiment to see what I could come up with.
I have always loved seashells and deeply appreciated their indescribable beauty. When my art career first began, I received an assignment to create a series of eight, large paintings of seashells, which would be marketed as prints. As I painted dozens of seashells, I became quite familiar with their intricate shapes and colors.
I was surprised how telling the story of a seashell memento also stirred up many emotions inside of me. My memories of collecting seashells began during childhood. I kept jars of them in my bedroom and each shell represented a beautiful memory of a day spent searching the seashore. With those feelings, I started to compose some new lyrics to add to my song, but then I had such a major revelation with “The Alabaster Seashell” that it took my breath away.
My song was originally based upon the story of a boyfriend giving me a seashell when I was in my teens. With that story, I pictured myself older and looking back at the treasured memory my boyfriend gave me long ago, after we were no longer in love. But as I sang my old melody, suddenly my heart took me somewhere else. I was swept to a clear day at the beach. I squinted as the brilliant sun warmed my soul. My young son was walking with me along the seashore. Then, he bent down and excitedly cupped a sparkling white seashell in his hands to show me. His blue eyes were shining. The revelation of how my song had changed and the memory of that tender moment caused me to become overwhelmed with emotion. I realized that I had discovered how my song could be expanded.
I decided that a seashell was a beautiful metaphor about seeing death in a positive way. The creature that once inhabited the seashell left something beautiful behind when it died. Although the creature was gone, the seashell could bring comfort with its beauty and with the memories. The “Alabaster Seashell” reminded me of a magnificent day combing the beach with Jason. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I quickly scrawled out additional lyrics for my song.
These are original pages where I developed new lyrics for a song I wrote when I was 17.
I am excited to share another painting on 20 lines, which I’ve named Coca Cola Classic. Painting ice and soda was very abstract and interesting for me.
This painting was created with watercolor dyes, before there was Photoshop. Some close-ups are below.
I have a blog where I describe my technique and have a lot more information. It is at:
I am excited to share another painting on 20 lines. I remember eating Brach candies with my grandmother and I especially loved the Neapolitan ones (with the brown, white and pink colors).
The painting above was created with watercolor dyes, before there was Photoshop. Some close-ups are below.
I have a blog where I describe my technique and have a lot more information. It is at:
It has been my pleasure to share my song lyrics and poetry on 20 Lines.
All of my life, I have been an artist. For over thirty years, I was commercial illustrator. I am excited to share some of my paintings on 20 lines. I have a blog where I describe my technique and have a lot more information. It is at:
The painting above was created with watercolor dyes, before there was Photoshop. I photographed those bottles before painting them and my reflection while holding a camera can be seen below:
No one else could see all the change you’d seen in me
You gave me so much; within a single touch
I searched for a smile; you brought mine back for a while
I just can’t find the words to say
How it felt when you went away
All my life, I hoped you would stay
And when you left, I let you go
But I still love you, more than you know
I still love you
You brought me sunshine; I thought that you were mine
How can I believe? When the warmth of you did leave
You gave me everything that made me want to sing
How could I have guessed that our time would be my best?
I just can’t find the words to say
How it felt when you went away
All my life, I hoped you would stay
And when you left, I let you go
But I still love you, more than you know
I still love you
Dearest Tersia,
I am always thinking of you at a time where you are putting one foot in front of the other. There is probably no word in the dictionary to express your exhaustion. Yet, you always find time to respond to every person’s comment with grace and kindness.
I loved your last post about tears. How beautiful that you could appreciate tears of joy, and not only of suffering at a time like this.
I have been deeply touched that you’ve shared my songs and words on your blog. It is unbelievable to me how in the short time I’ve know you, you’ve allowed me to help. I certainly hoped and wished I could. My own life has been enriched knowing that I was able to be there for you and Vic. The lovely comments by people who read your blog have also brought me to tears.
Since you have been Vic’s caregiver, you already know her absence will leave you with a deep abyss. It is so hard to have that devotion stop suddenly, because you will be going from plodding in exhaustion into nothingness. It is shocking because for so long, keeping Vic going has been your major purpose in life.
There are many levels to this song similarly to “Set You Free.” The main theme is of letting go. My song was written about friendship, but I revised it after my son Jason died. The lines that I find most applicable to losing my child was:
“I just can’t find the words to say how it felt when you went away”
With that line I am saying that nothing can possibly express the anguish of grief.
“I thought that you were mine.”
I believed that my child belonged to me. He was my purpose and I took care of him until he died. I could not accept his death for a very long time. That was why letting go was so hard.
Your own eloquent words acknowledge acceptance of Vic’s death. You are preparing yourself to let her go.
But there is no way to do that adequately.
I share with you my lyrics and song now. Since you have shared my messages, I want to provide a link here to my story about Jason. It helps to explain my songs and why I want to give you hope as you enter the darkness of grief. Your love for Vic will never end, nor her love for you.
Please know that you (or anyone grieving) can write to me any time. I am sensitive to grief in all forms, but because I am also a bereaved parent, I am especially sad when a child dies.
My song, “Set You Free” is one of my favorites. There are many ways that I relate to my song. I share more about it in a moment. Recently, I was very moved by a blog about a woman who is caring for her terminally ill daughter. It is getting close to the end now. I reached out and sent my song and words to this mother.
I was very inspired to know that out of hundreds of messages, she chose to post my song and mention how much it helped her.
There is nothing more meaningful in my life right now than that.
Clicking the blue title below, is a link to Tersia’s blog:
I wrote these words six months before my father died:
My song, “Set You Free” was born when I was feeling sad on Cheryl’s birthday. It was hard for me to believe that it had been almost three years since Cheryl died; sometimes it was easier to imagine that she was still alive and living far away. When we were older, life was busy but I missed our former closeness. Sometimes, there were special moments when I could hear her voice; it was recognizable and always comforting. There was no mistaking the cackle in it; we both used to laugh so easily. The smile in her voice was like music filling my mind, traveling straight to my heart and spreading comfort throughout my body. Those times were fleeting, but it was always music that brought Cheryl back to me.
I was sad because I knew Cheryl would have had some wisdom to offer me as I coped with my parents’ suffering. My mother’s dementia was worsening. She still recognized me, but was often terribly confused and anxious. My father was now in a wheelchair and plagued by constant infections; he would say he wasn’t in pain but he continuously moaned under his breath. A few moments earlier, I had spoken with him on the phone; he was very sick and refused to allow me to take him to the hospital.
And so it was on that stressful day, that Cheryl visited me. I was listening to one of the songs I wrote for her in my darkened bedroom, and my tears began to flow. I cried because it was hard to accept that she was really gone. But then, I heard Cheryl’s voice and her sweet encouragement. Gently, she reminded me that I was not alone; she would always be with me, especially when I played my guitar. After her voice quieted, I stood up to address my emptiness inside. My eyes still wet with tears, as I explored new fingerings on my guitar and soon beautiful chords began to appear; my melancholy was gone.
I put down my guitar to answer the phone. The call was to inform me that my father was being taken to a nearby hospital emergency room by ambulance. I left in the summer twilight to go to the hospital. When I returned home it was very late and I couldn’t sleep. I fingerpicked my guitar and felt inspired; lyrics formed in my mind to go with the beautiful new guitar chords I had discovered the day before. My new song, which I named “Set You Free,” began with the words: “You’re hanging on, as night turns to dawn.”
Acceptance is truly what “Set You Free” is about. My lyric line of “There is no fear and your leaving is clear,” is completely honest. As a result of my happiness and newfound clarity about life, I was confident that even with separation, both of us would be all right. Relating that to my children was easy. With my parents, it meant that my uncertainty and fear about death was gone. This revelation was quite profound for me. I felt ready to face the unknown.
It was because I had decided that life was all about arrivals and departures.
Because my songs come from my subconscious, sometimes I find my lyrics to carry additional meanings for me later on. I began to picture Cheryl as I sang the lyrics, because she had inspired me to compose the first chords of my song.
But it was my chorus lyrics of: “your smile, your touch, your voice, your face, your essence I will never replace,” that perfectly expressed my deep longing for Jason, and caused me to become emotional when I sang them. Jason was my child who died many years ago, when he was only five years old.
Yet not long after my song was written, I was singing those words and I realized that my emotions weren’t related to pain or sadness. As I remembered Jason’s unforgettable essence, I was overcome by deep gratitude. I had finally let go of my grief for him.
It was then that I understood.
I realized that my song was about setting myself free.
