I had just finished my big 3 day show of the year, Christmas at the Cabin, which is usually the last thing I do for my art biz for the year. However, this year I managed to squeeze in a Christmas Commission a Kentucky Home Portrait Painting. I was honored to paint this beautiful old Kentucky home on top of a hill.
My husband and I lived in Kentucky for some years. He was raised in Kentucky and still lived there when we met. We bought our first home in Marion Kentucky, so it has a special place in my heart. While this home is a little further east from where we lived, the style and feel of the home was something I was very familiar with.
This was to be the husband’s Christmas gift from my client and I’m so glad I was able to pull it off. I delivered it just in time – December 23rd! My client was thrilled and I was told the husband was too. That makes me so happy!
The house was his grandparents and held sweet memories for him as a child and into adulthood. Sadly, his grandparents have passed but now the memory of all the good times will continue a little bit clearer with this painting. That’s my hope at least.
I was told that the house was very old, (1890!) and had recently come back on the market. Someone had “flipped” it and they had removed much of the original charm the home had in order to “modernize” it. So sad. I see this so often.
Also, his grandmother was an artist. Wow! Was I thrilled to learn this and the couple had found old paintings of hers and had them framed for display. I just love that. Humbly, I like to think that Grandma would approve of my version of her beloved home.
In addition to great memories, I’m told the old Kentucky home had a resident ghost – right up my alley! He remembers little footsteps running up and down the stairs. I wondered if the renovation ramped up the ghostly activity?
There used to be a grand old barn to accompany this beautiful old home, but it had slipped from the foundation. Long ago, it also had a working outside kitchen. I lived in an old farmhouse that had an outside kitchen – it was so cool I’d love to have that old home now, but it’s been torn down. You can see it here along with my personal ghostly encounters while living there ages ago.
When I look at old homes, and especially when I am in them I wonder about the lives that went on in them. The history the floors had seen and the many steps they accepted with their squeaks and grunts. Banisters and railings… how many hands had held on the sturdiness of them to climb the stairs. The doors that welcomed family and friends for years and years day in and day out.
Our lives pass so quickly. My dad and I have often talked about his long art career at ad agencies. All of the work we do, after you’re gone… it’s gone and mostly isn’t relevant in today’s world. People are many times forgotten or not thought of within just two generations.
These are some of the things I think about as I age. Kinda weird to say it out loud, but it’s true. I sometimes wonder have I done anything that I’ll be remembered for? Good things I hope. My paintings will long outlive me, but will anyone know who I was? Does it matter? Probably not.
The best thing we can do is to live for today and enjoy our friends and family now while we can… while we’re still here. Be in the moment. I have made a conscious effort to really be present in whatever it is I’m doing. That means stop trying to multitask. Pay attention while talking with someone, etc. It’s not always easy, but I keep trying.
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Learn more about me on the ‘About’ page under the additional links menu. I’m an artist – a painter mostly and an avid gardener. I paint a variety of subjects including birds, koi fish, my gardens, ponds and flowers as well as anything having to do with nature especially trees and tropical scenes. I also enjoy painting abstracts and have started created more and more of them. My most favorite thing to try to achieve in my painting is is mystery and telling mystical stories.
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What a wonderful gift. And definitely something you’ll be remembered for! I imagine that old home has many, many stories in its walls.
Thank you Lisa, yes I agree about the many stories that could be told if those walls could talk. It makes me feel good to know that they’ll both look fondly at that painting and it’ll bring those wonderful memories back.
What a beautiful painting!
Thanks so much Lori! I appreciate that 🙂
Trying again to post my comment! I love the photo of you working on the painting. What a cool piece with a special history. It will be a cherished gift.
You’re so right that the best thing is to live for each day and cherish the time we have with the people we love.
Thanks for sharing (and I hope this comment works!).
Thanks so much Anne for not giving up on leaving a comment. Tech can be so infuriating. Thank you also for your sweet compliments, I do think the painting will be cherished and that makes me feel really good.