Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving

...to my dear American family, and friends, many of whom I've made through this virtual window to the world, and viewers known and unknown - though we don't formally celebrate, I am thankful for you all. I have to confess to being relieved that I don't have to produce a large meal with pumpkin pie, when major festivities are coming up in a months time, but I am extraordinarily thankful for my husband (who would probably have to cook the Thanksgiving meal if truth be told), family and friends here at home, and those that soon will be home again.
The watercolour is one I did years ago from a photograph of my daughters at a funfair (the blond one at the back is returning home from seeing the world in less than a week - whee!) and wasn't very pleased with at the time - the painting that is, not the daughter - but now I've unearthed it again, it brings warm, happy feelings of nostalgia, and gratitude that these little girls have grown up into the wonderful independent young women they are. Their little brother wasn't born yet when this was taken, but I think I feel a blog post of his own coming on, as he moves from one life stage into another and my maternal role goes through churnings and adjustments.

12 comments:

Marie Theron said...

My eyes just fell on your lovely watercolour, Cathy! "Back to the River" is also very serene.

Unknown said...

Cathy this is beautiful! You've captured the heady excitement of the merry go round for a child! I love the shades of yellow especially. So gentle and sweet. Nice painting!

Arts web show said...

Nice artwork.
You use bold colours and tones, but in a subtle manner.
That cant be easy

martinealison said...

Très belle aquarelle remplie de la douceur et la joie enfantine et qui a bercé votre coeur de maman...
Bisous

ZHENYA ZHURAVLYOVA said...

OMG!!!!COOL!

RH Carpenter said...

This is truly joyful!! Love the play of light you have in the painting.

Charlene Brown said...

Plenty of wonderful memories for everyone in this delightful painting, Cathy. I too have a daughter with light brown hair and a younger blond -- each of whom now have two sons and a daughter. Thank you for sharing this lovely image.

Carol King said...

What a great painting of your daughter and friend (?) on the merry-go-round (Carousel?)! It really captures the excitement of the kids on the ride.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, Cathy.

(Hmmm, the word verification today is FATTLY. Are they making a comment of how I will return from my in-laws after eating Thanksgiving dinner?)

Penny said...

I love this painting, so lovely that you have it, I wish I had been painting when mine were youg, and I also wish I could paint as well!!

Cathy Gatland said...

Thank you Marie, Katherine, Arts web show,

Merci vraiment Martine-Alison, c'était un temps précieux et je suis heureux de redécouvrir cette peinture ! (with thanks to babelfish!)

Sofia, Rhonda, Charlene - my eldest is actually a redhead, though you can't tell in this - glad you like it and I'm glad I rediscovered it!

Carol, they're both my daughters - I think the carousel... can be called either... FATTLY is one good reason I'm relieved not to be indulging in pie right now, it's summer here and I'll hopefully get to a beach sometime!

Hi Penny, you can still paint your children from photographs, make them a bit indistinct like this one if you can't quite remember the details!

Art with Liz said...

What a joyous painting Cathy! And your Back to the River is so alive and striking!

Fay Akers said...

cathy you have been busy since I last stopped by. Nice work.