Roses and Lace: From the Archives

One of the great pleasures of being a painter is the personal contacts made along the way. Throughout the many years of attending regional, local, and national exhibitions, I have met fellow artists, gallery owners and personnel, and countless collectors. Some have become and remain friends. Others stay in touch with a nice message here and there.

A Fortunate Encounter

I recently received this lovely note and image from a collector who purchased Roses and Lace in the early 1990s. This type of sentiment is what keeps artists, like me, chained to our easels. What could be better than knowing you have given pleasure to someone with several square feet of linen canvas and a few tubes of oil paints?

Here is the letter:

Dear Margret,

Destiny brought into my life the daughter of the gentleman from whom I bought this painting. I had to share this with you. It has been hanging in my living room now for the last 30 years, and I still get pleasure from looking at it. I love it.

Sincerely,

A Collector

Memories and Family Folklore

I do not know this collector well because she lives across the country, but we have met and we have corresponded occasionally. Many times collectors express attraction to paintings that contain lace because it is reminiscent of something from their childhood. Once, a local woman related how she is drawn to the Nippon I often include in compositions because her grandmother had an impressive collection of this irresistibly paintable porcelain. The grandchildren delighted in hot cocoa, lovingly served in delicate teacups poured from a coveted heirloom chocolate pot.

It is very gratifying to know that even after so many years have gone by, people still enjoy these pictures, which bring smiles and help recall special occasions from the past. Hopefully, paintings, such as Roses and Lace or Nippon and Lace, will be passed down to the next generation of art lovers and continue the family folklore and memories through stories told on canvas.