Photo taken by Patti of Two Souls One Heart in her home

I’ve been working on this painting for a couple months now and it’s finally finished. It’s my take on a sacred heart milagros, religious folk charms that are traditionally used for healing purposes and as votive offerings in Mexico, the southern United States, other areas of Latin America, and parts of the Iberian peninsula. My friend Patti had lent a book to me about milagros and I found it so interesting. The sacred heart milagros inspired this painting.

I painted this also with my friends Patti and Connie in mind. They have such love and understanding for one another… it is special bond that I greatly admire. Each swallow represents each of them. The sacred heart in the middle is their love and the blessings that have been bestowed on them.

They’re two of the best and unassuming people I’ve ever known. You know how when people come into your life and you just click? That’s how it’s been for Patti, Connie and I. I feel like we’ve known each other forever. I value their friendship and know we’ll all be friends from now on. People come into your life for a reason. I’m not sure yet of the reason, but I’m absolutely enjoying their friendship. We all met at an art show and they were first collectors, but there was an instant connection I remember.

With Valentine’s Day just next weekend, I thought it would be fitting to show you this painting, the progression and it’s story.

It started out as a burst of light from the center of the paper.

Then I added a heart in the center for the bursts of light to be coming out of. I intended for it to later become a sacred heart with the flames coming out from the top.

Another swallow added

I began to question the colors. I knew I didn’t care for the red heart so I added many other colors and when I started to like it I added the flame.

Even though I had added grungy shadowing to the edges and corners to add more… more I don’t know. Take the goody off. I still hated the background. I grabbed a big paint brush and red paint and started loosely adding streaks of red. Then I thought I like turquoise and red together, why not. I added the drippy like streaks of turquoise and hey this was going somewhere now.

I knew I was going to add “Two souls one heart” on the painting but the original idea I had was not going to look like I wanted it to. You can see a faint sketch of words in the 3rd and 4th work in progress photos above.

Then it came to me. I remember seeing a tattoo on Patti and I just knew I wanted it to look like tattoo lettering. I transferred the words on the painting then painted it in.

I fiddled more with the birds and then signed it.

I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.

Of course the original is on the wall at my friends house, but I’ve got prints available here.

Learn more about me on the ‘About’ page in the menu at the top. 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.

If you would like to keep up with what I’m doing, I have a newsletter e-mailed about once a month that gives you special status for invitations, birthday greeting and more. I’d love for you to add your email to my Friends and Collectors list!

some of my paintings