I Love you Daddy!

On May 16th, at 6:03am, the WWII veteran, jack-of-all-trades and master of many,first class salesman, loving husband of sixty-six years, great friend, wonderful grandfather, and loving, caring father..Oh! and don't forget - he was an AVID fisherman!, had passed away at 86 years of age. . . .
I was blessed to be there when it happened as I was blessed to be his daughter. . . He was dying of kidney failure and had chosen not to go on dialysis. . ..
My brothers and I were taking turns spending the night to be able to check on him through out the night to give my Mom some relief. Friday night (15 May) was my night... I decided to stay up and paint all night instead of getting up every 20 minutes or so to check on him. The painting I was working on was very special and had to be done and posted by the coming Monday morning...It's my first attempt to become a Certified Decorative Painter. (After the conference in June I will show you my first attempt.)This painting was very important to me , until Dad got so ill. I had thought of just giving up...but Dad still had his facalties about him earlier in the week and had urged me to continue... So there I sat painting this piece..
At 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning, I finished! Now I may not pass as I'm sure there is much more to learn, but for all practical purposes I was through, except for the varnishing. I looked over at my Dad and did a double take...was he breathing?...Yes! he was. I watched his chest move up and down a couple of times and saw him move his chin. My Mom came in to say she was going to get dressed and I went to wash my face... a couple minutes later I was back to check on Dad. . . But this time he was no longer breathing... there was no slow measured movement of his chest as it had earlier risen and fallen..His gaze was no longer of this world...He was now "Home" with his heavenly Father...celebrating a whole and pain-free new existance. . .
Yes, he was sad to leave us, but he knew that one day we will all be together again.
I will treasure the special painting I did that night...just as I watched over him, I feel he watched over me to finish it before he passed on.
"Thanks Daddy!, I will always love you.."

Thank you Neadeen!!!!!

Today I am sooooooo excited! ! ! ! Neadeen Masters, a well known and talented artist found my blog online and commented on an online list that I belong to... This is what she said:

Hi Everyone, I was searching the web tonight and came across Dianne Hart's blog. Dianne what a lovely job you have done on your latest paintings. I especially love your latest little design of the lemon and cherries. Very nicely done. I can see that Sue's blending class was taken very seriously!! LOL!!
Excellent job on your blending and detail. If you had to name only one thing that you found that helped you the most in Sue's blending class, what would it be?

AND I was so excited to see all the promotion you are doing for the AAO. Thank you so much for your support and the extra advertising you are doing for us. We cannot thank you enough for taking the time.
Folks if you can stop by to see the lovely paintings Dianne is doing and designing on her own now!! Wooooo Hoooooo!! Way to go girl. How about some mini e-packets?? LOVE the lemon!!>

http://artbyhart-dianne.blogspot.com/

Cheers!!

Neadeen Masters, CDA, AAO
Group Moderator

That just really made my day! I am so in awe of the 5 wonderful ladies of the AAO and to have Neadeen comment online where so many other wonderful artist can read it and then look at my blog....well...I'm speechless!
I might just have to think more seriously about some mini e-packets! First though, I'll have to find out how to do that :-)

Thanks Neadeen!!!!!!!

Hugs to everyone!! and don't forget to leave your comments throughout my blog.

Fruit Frenzie

Hi All!
Just wanted to share a new painting that I did a week or so ago. This one was painted on watercolor paper that I first prepped with a sealer.
Anyway...this one I designed myself. So I was very pround of myself doing this one, as I usually use other artists designs and follow their directions.
This is also special because it was painted for a very special lady ~ Her name is Cindi Estes. She is my instructor for the module classes that I've been talking about. She is a very wonderful lady and artist, who is very positive in her critiques of her students, at the same time being honest in what we need to fix or work on. She always makes you feel like you accomplished something thus reaching milestones in our artistic journey.
She hit a milestone herself recently, so we (her students) decided to honor her by each of us painting a handemade card for her and "shower" her with them to show our love and appreciation for her amazing ability to teach us and guide us, but to be there almost 24/7 for any questions or problems we might be having.
She is an amazing woman!!! Her website is on the collumn to the right if you would like to find out more about her. If you have an interest in taking art classes, you won't find a better teacher then Cindi...and you can do it all from your own home...Her classes are taught online.
Thanks for reading!!!And please feel free to leave comments!
Ta Ta for now!