The Newsletter that just sent asked

'where to begin?'

which also lends itself to latest blog. 

Instead we will begin with

ALL things NEW! 

LOTS! 

New Workshops

New Fine Art Prints

New Brush Set Winner 

New Home

New Baby

New Paintings

And lets add to this list, newest honor:

honored to share that 

Morning's Song "Promise" 

has been accepted into the Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition at the Beverly McNeil Gallery -Birmingham, Alabama,

September 11- October 8, 2025

the opening reception is Thursday September 11, from 5-7pm 

the awards ceremony will take place a 6pm EST 

and will be broadcast live on FB

New workshops:

NEW LAST OF 2025 WORKSHOPS-- click on images for a link to website where you may see more info on how to register. 

class size is limited to 12.

ALSO NEW 2026 FEBRUARY WORKSHOPS NOW AVAILABLE TOO! 

Capturing Intimacies With Gouache 2 Day                                   SKYSCAPES WITH DRAMA B

description as listed above for these NEW FEBRUARY 2026 Dates just added: Gouache 2/2,3 & Skyscapes... 2/4,5,6 2026 class's limit 12

New Fine Art Prints: Introducing

IN his light

these open edition

In His Light - Inspirational Fine Art Giclees

are now available with the LIVING Word that inspired their images printed with each painting. My photographer of my originals I have been working with for over 20 years now also makes Fine Art Giclees.  Thrilled to be able to support the neighborhood with these locally printed right here in SW FL, made in the USA!  Printed in two formats: Canvas Wrapped Giclee, ready for hanging OR on 8x10" rag paper suitable for framing. 

  I never mean to offend any with my faith.  It is simply shared here for those that have asked if any of my paintings are available as a print.  This is how they are being made available, in this inspirational line.  If you are interested, these are being offered at a introductory pre-order special price until August 29th, and they should be available for local pickup or shipping starting then too. Follow the In His Light collection at my website where new inspirational offerings will be added.  These are simply the first in the line-up.  

New brush set winner:

newsletter recipients were given an opportunity to win my

Karen Ann Hitt - An Original Hitt -  brush set created for my workshop students and made

exclusively by Rosemary & Company Brushes! The winner is:

kimberly gambo

its nice to have a winner who is right here local!

Congratulations Kimberly!

if any of you are interested in your own Karen Ann Hitt- An Original Hitt Workshop brush set

they are available at workshops. I picked up sets from Rosemary at PACE 25 to save all of you shipping cost !

speaking of PACE- Plein Air Convention & Expo

May 14 - 18 2026 in the Ozarks! 

thrilled and honored to share that I will once again be on PACE FACULTY 2026 in Branson MO!  Can not wait to be a part of all in the Ozarks! As always an amazing group of Artists are being added to the line up- I can not wait to see what I learn myself at this next! 

If you are thinking of attending, by the way you can get a 100$ discount by using the code PACE-HITT at check out!

There has been so much NEW I have barely shared this past PACE experience and Demo in Gouache!  Thank you to all that came out to support me there!  Plus Lake Tahoe was beyond beautiful!  I will share more of time there down the road. 

speaking of down the road- May to june this year  i logged over 7ooo miles!

cris- crossing the USA in my new Trusty Steed III that I call "Lit'l Rev"

HITTing the Road

Confess I have yet to completely up pack all from the trip, from the artwork done along the way and yes early spring cool weather clothes of the Eastern Sierras, BECAUSE I will be heading back that way this fall.  Details in the works but it looks like another 7000 miles are ahead of me before this year is done! 

HITT- ing 

the Road

Yes, The Journey IS the Destination! 

new home

is why I have been doing so much more 'house-work' so to speak than usual. Never in a gazillion years would my husband and I thought we would have the opportunity to build a 'landing pad' for our RVing ways in the Eastern Sierras!  I can not wait until I am able to spend more time up here... at about 7500 feet.  LOVE that we go from 11 feet above sea level here in SW FL to being back dropped by a mountain peak just shy of 11,000 feet! Those of you familiar with Edgar Paynes work, one of the scenes from his paintings is everywhere you look in this neck of the woods!  So excited, looking forward to sharing painting time between here and SW FL and all places in- between.  The reason for so many cris-crossing trips this year...

Last but not LEAST: Grandma Duty calls

NEW BABY

and quite honestly have been loving this 24/7 ish duty call!

New Paintings ---- New Gallery --- all things new shall be

continued! 

thanks for being a part...  of An Original Hitt blog... this one just a update catch up one... NEXT we shall get into some teaching and paintings in the studio and and and... stay tuned! 

The theme word given to this season, Restoration. For decades artists have been gathering at one of our most iconic landmarks here on the SW Coast of FL.  It's one of the few remaining all-natural shorelines that was donated by Mr. Caspersen in approximately 1942. He donated it wanting to keep its pristine natural beauty along this unique shoreline for generations to enjoy unchanged from its historical condition.   Well that all changed this past year, after back-to-back Hurricanes Helene And Milton slammed into it and forever changing this landmark - decimating it.  Even today as I write this, all the roads remain closed to this location.  Artists for decades have been gathering to paint at this piece of natural shoreline, seeking to reflect its ever-changing beauty.  Venice Plein Air, a small plein air painting group, that I founded back in 2003 has been gathering there twice a month for decades, and often pairing up with other painting groups and artist.  When the sad news that all roads are closed to Caspersen, I reached out to Aimee with Collectors Gallery also in Venice to see if she would be interested in helping me host a benefit exhibit to honor this hard-hit community and this beautiful place.  She said yes, absolutely!  I then put out a call to artists across the country to ask them to enter their works that they had painted over the years into the exhibit. Thirty-six artists and upwards of 70 paintings were juried into this national exhibit that is on display officially until 27 February 2025. If you have an opportunity to visit Collectors Gallery and Framery you will have the opportunity to collect a piece of history by many National Award Winning Artists along with local favorites who answered the call and offered their paintings, both new for the exhibit and from over the years of painting there, offered in a manor that seeks to benefit VABI.  There is something for everyone on display.  I personally have three Plein Air works, one studio piece, and one studio-form-study done for the exhibit on display.  Pictured above, Majesty- By Still Waters, was inspired by an actual scene that I experienced back in 2001, when I first painted this front moving onto Caspersen Beach.  That painting for years was my signature painting and I was honored when the Collector of that original designed and built their new home's fireplace around it being up above the mantel.  Such a honor! Here is that first painting, from 2001 titled Majestic Sovereignty painted in Acrylic. 

Here is the most recent depiction of that view, a 40x30 Oil on Linen, in my Signature Hand Carved Gallery Framing, which is hand carved for me by Travis at Gold River in Utah.Along with this original I am honored to have four additional paintings on display.  AND you even have an opportunity to win An Original Hitt, Plein Air Work that honors the exhibits beneficiary: Venice Area Beautification Inc.  The piece was named after it--Venice Area Beautification Inc's Touch.  A plein Air Oil on Linen, beautifully framed by Collectors Gallery.  Each patron collector of a painting in the exhibit has their name automatically entered into an exclusive drawing for An Original Hitt.  You have until the 27th of February to purchase a painting and be entered.  The drawing will be the night of the Artwalk on the 27th.  Also that night the three winning artists in three separate categories will be announced the People's Choice Awards.  Monetary voting is from 2/18-2/27 and each vote enters you into a separate drawing automatically to win a 1/1 Canvas Giclee of the Original Painting "Last Became First" Originally painted in 2015. Visit this historical exhibit, honoring Caspersen, and benefiting VABI!  

Artist Honor Caspersen- A Benefit National Exhibit

You may be a part, with your support, vote,

patronage of the community for this hard hit community in multiple ways.

It has been a busy week, month, season...

  Much is in the works and much transpired in these last few month.

February 20th, 2025 I was asked last minute to share at Eric Rhodes Lunchtime Learning that he has been doing since Covid, every weekday at lunchtime... with artists simply sharing their insight for a free opportunity to learn a technique from an artist.  I was honored to be asked, for the second time.  This session was titled "...Light Through The Clouds".  Now doesn't that perfectly suit this past weeks theme word of Restoration. Here is the link to that Video session if you are interested.  Sought to shed a little light on the subject of

  'Painting Light Through The Clouds'

In the theme of Restoration, also ahead I am busy in the studio preparing for a solo exhibit with the Hughes Gallery Of Boca Grande, which is set for March 31- April 4th.  I am thrilled to be able to be back in a beautiful space on the island of Boca Grande.  Boca Grande was one of the hardest hit islands of the back to back hurricanes this past year and is making a strong comeback.  I am beyond honored to have an exhibit with Barbara Hughes, who I believe is now in her 23rd year on the island of Boca Grande. A very special place. a very special part of the island is Barbara Hughes and the Hughes Gallery of Boca Grande.  I will be debuting some of my largest studio paintings to date, 60 x 48" paintings in my signature hand carved frames by Travis at Gold River in Utah.  All brought together to share how we all have been given a tremendous opportunity to shed a little light through the clouds. Stay tuned for more on the exhibit, again where the paintings for it will debut. Thank you for being a part of An Original Hitt Art.

“You can not paint yourself out of a drawing problem”-has been said by many an Artist.  There are also many an artist that has learned the hard way that there is no shortcut worthy of their time that successfully gets your painting started better than by having a good plan.  My favorite way of doing that is with a thumbnail, and yes I preach it to my students.   Every time ( well as soon as you say 'every' you make yourself out to be a fibber) - ok- 99% of the time that I just dove into a studio painting without a thumbnail or study first- I dove back out of it... or set it aside with a back tracking. Just like you wouldn't attempt to build a house without a blue print, or sew a dress or suit of clothes  without a pattern, the same foundation is beneficial when you paint.  Even if you paint abstractly.  Balance, Harmony, Composition play a role no matter your painting style.  One of the most exciting awards I ever won was in an Abstract exhibition.  No, I do not consider myself an abstract painter.  Ironically the painting came about from one of the lessons taught at my FUNdamentals of Drawing class.  The lesson was on the principles of composition (trying to lay off the using of the word rules).  Every strong compositions utilizes at least one 'rule' if not multiple.  Many simplify the Fibonacci Sequence into a simplified form of thirds.  Asymmetrical, Sequential are another two 'rules' of composition.  In this class exercise I had students make a few thumbnails of compositions by not drawing any object; only shapes and values. Limiting the values to 4; Darkest, Next to dark, light and next to light.  That's it.  The key was to achieve rhythm, harmony and balance.   The name of the painting that won 2nd place in an Abstract Exhibition was Sequentially Asymmetrical.  I made myself paint the painting with only a palette knife so that I wouldn't 'draw' too much, and signed my name K without a full signature. This painting was entered into a juried abstract exhibit, but this painting was in many ways the opposite of an abstract.  It was a carefully orchestrated composition study combining two rules of composition. How boring you might say.  It remains one of my favorite paintings, saved it over the years, though it hangs in the bathroom today, guess that is better than the closet. I digress.  The lesson, was to teach students that without 'drawing' you can create a fine composition that in-turn makes a fine painting. That FUNdamental was just one though, and a great place to start-  AND Just think what drawing  and sound draftsmanship might add to your painting!  If you pick up any old master sketchbook you will find a drawing study.  Leonardo's study of fabric, or a lily or a hand.... key, study leaves this artists in awe.  These are to understand the details though.  In a painting, before you get to any details you need to have an understanding of what makes for a strong composition or design.  That is what gets someone to stop and look at your painting, verses it having no draw (pun intended) and the potential viewer of it just walks on by it. Do you know what your first job as an artist is in a painting?  To control the viewers eye INTO your painting!  Another important part of your composition and design is to make sure that you are not steering your viewer right off the canvas onto another painting hanging next to yours.  The paintings that win awards are the paintings that get the judge to walk across the room to view it.  And you achieve that by applying the FUNdamentals... to you creating your own work of art. 

How? Well that is a loaded question.  Lets stick to the purpose of this particular blog, the FUNdamentals.  99.99% of my paintings begin with a thumbnail.  Consider it a 'blueprint' of your painting.  In a plein air painting (out doors) I may not spend more than 5 minutes on a few possibilities of what believe may make a good composition of the landscape before me.  Its kind of like your viewfinder.  When working on a large scale studio painting, the thumbnail may become more elaborate but its premise remains the same.  Also, many times a plein air painting, also know as a field sketch is the best tool back in the studio for a 'thumbnail' of a major work.  The color notes painted from life you will find are more in key than any photograph that you take.  Back to thumbnails though; these composition layouts, studies, color notes... are FUNdamental.  No matter how much you want to just get started on your painting... you will come to find it saves you countless hours if you start with a blueprint instead of just an idea.  At least for this artist. FUNdamentals of Drawing & Painting Part 2 explores more of values, color theory, the painting process.

Here are images of the finished paintings from these thumbnails:

If you would like to explore these concepts in more details you have two workshop opportunities  

Beyond Art Share- It’s Good To Be Back!

Transformed, is the first painting painted in the restored Studio after almost 8 months of not being able to be in it to work, and after more than a year of the restoration process post our home being flooded! ‘Your home is flooding, water is coming out of the light socket in the studio” is a call one never hopes to receive, and when you live on the 9^th floor, ‘flooded’ is not even a consideration.  It has been a Life hiccup - an understatement. More things canceled and undone in this past year and a half than can even keep track of.  Recovering all is not possible, simply pressing on and beyond thankful.  Yes, It is GOOD TO BE BACK!  It is always a gift to get to paint the inspirations in waiting… Sometimes it feels as if ones head might explode if they are not released.

 A friend (Linda Crank) recently shared some excerpts from “Talks On Art” by William Morris Hunt’s.  “Inspiration is nothing without work”-WMH truly says it all, and it encourages and re-inspires this Artists too.  “We are not satisfied to do simply the things which we can do.  We must draw something too hard for us… We want to feel that there is a reserved force.”-WMH

Heerbert La Thange’s “The Water Splash.” & "Val d'Aosta (A Stream over Rocks)" by John Singer Sargent

"Artists are supposed to pass their lives in earnest endeavor to express through the medium of paint or pencil, thoughts, feelings, or impressions which they cannot help expressing, and which cannot possibly be expressed by any other means. They make use of material means in order to arrive at this end. They tell their story - the story of a day, an impression of a character, a recollection of a moment, or whatever, more or less clearly or well, as they are more or less capable of doing. They expose their work to the public, not for the sake of praise, but with a feeling and a hope that some human being may see in it the feeling that has passed through their own mind in their poor and necessarily crippled statement. The endeavor is honest and earnest, if almost always with a result weakened by over conscientiousness or endeavor to be understood."-WMH

"The painter has to go directly to nature, or he is a mere copyist. He cannot paint his picture like somebody else. He must tell his own story... Please look out of the window. You'll get something different from what you get out of books, for it never has been seen before."-WMH

One of my favorite places to paint if not painting a cloudscape or seascape is at a babbling, and sometimes roaring stream! LOVE the challenge of attempting to capture the motion.  The master painters paintings above leave me in awe, and so very much inspire.

"The artist is an interpreter of Nature. People learn to love nature through pictures. To the artist nothing is in vain; nothing beneath his notice. If he is great enough he will exalt every subject which he treats. Who sees or hears the word 'albatross' and does not think of the 'Ancient Mariner?'"-WMH

There are two things that always present themselves in one of my paintings, Nature & Faith. Reflecting the created nature of subjects, be it of the sky, land, sea, or even a smile, but especially with the effects of light transforming them has always had its call on this Artists heart.  Hence, also the quotes above ‘…to hard for us…’  Hard, truly does not come into play- just awe and seeking to reflect it.  Two more quotes that I often repeat to self and have as post-it notes are by Michelangelo: “The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection” & “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is to low and we reach it”

Yes, am very thankful to be back in the studio post its restoration.  Also VERY thankful that we did not have another major restoration post Ian hitting our area hard.  We have major damage to our second home, an RV that we have lived in probably as much as we have in our home. Pictured here where we were when received the call our main home flooded.  And the jeep shown here we will just say an antelope ate un related to Ian.  To Ian  Husband lost his beloved truck to flood waters after heading to make sure a purple heart vet friend that called and said, ‘a tree fell on house, front window blew out and carport blew off’ attempts to get back to him to see if he was OK didn’t come thru- so as the storm passed ‘some’ Husband made the tough call to make sure he was OK.  Guardian Angels worked overtime again, they both fine, flood water ate husbands truck and he had to walk a quarter block to friends home; they both safe there over night. This the abbreviated version… as it is with ALL that has happened in this Artists world in the last year and a half! A few things on the list; Uveitis left eye(scariest of all and overcome healed), Randomly shot at on the interstate( well ya, that was pretty scary too), Hit an antelope (ok, that one left us sounding like an OnStar commercial “came out of nowhere’ and bet you don’t hear those last two often) and several more as we still managed to make lemonade out of some surreal lemons that were thrown our way.  To be honest, through them all, ‘exceedingly more than we could hope for or imagine’ Godspeed has replied.  I do not recommend getting ‘new’ in the manor that we did, but it is great to be back!  I will be happily painting IN THE STUDIO to prepare paintings for my gallery; The Hughes Gallery of Boca Grande, and to fill the hand carved signature frames by Travis at Gold River that didn’t get filled last year.

Also our local Plein Air Group of which I facilitate will be active too, our mission; To preserve Venice one plein air painting at a time… no sign-ups or fees,  just outdoor painting camaraderie- Venice Plein Air MAP (Meet And Paint) pretty much as simple as that.  Something that is truly enjoyed, especially when spending a lot of time in solitude working on large scale studio pieces.  Also, nothing in a photograph compares to the experience of painting out doors from life.  Getting outside has sincerely been the biggest advancement of my paintings once coming back inside to work in the studio.  Be it using a field study for a studio piece or simply finding myself closing my eyes to remember what my mindseye has recorded there when looking at any of my references. 

Two more quotes:

‘Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better’- Albert Einstein & Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where The Spirit of The Lord is, there is freedom.  And we, with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from The Lord, who is The Spirit--- 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Never ever mean to offend any with my faith, everyone has their own ways, and quite frankly know all too well that we ALL are here by grace!  A passion that was instilled in me many decades ago was to reflect the word as the living word that it is, God-breathed and relevant to every breath that we take in our today’s.  It is how I see, and yes how I breathe, and thankful always when I am able to do so with a brush in hand. 

Besides the newest painting ‘Transformed’ here are a few more from the last year and a half.

Thank you so much for joining my newsletter list.  I am very honored that you chose to be a part of

An Original Hitt journey.  One thing that you can be assured of here, is that I will not be blowing up your email with sharing… um think my last was??? Months ago.  Confess didn’t really know how to share all of the ‘undone’ sooooooooo next chapter has begun! More than Art share- Its Good to be back!

-- Karen Ann Hitt   -An Original Hitt

And here is the last painting painted in the Studio- Alleluia.  Literally a jackhammer was on the other side of a plastic drop cloth with a zipper for a door.  This painting truly felt like a miracle being able to complete it!  Second picture, again at the easel Work In Progress  

a few plein air paintings.  These I rarely sell, they are kept for studio reference. Sometimes the study is gifted to the patron that purchases the studio painting. I have a habit of saving tooooooo much- so also stay tune for a possible studio sale of little paintings that have used for study over the years, ready to possibly release ... testing one two three, we shall see.

And here are a few of the Studio paintings painted...

Stay tuned for the new An Original Hitt's from the new and improved studio ! Here is a sneak peak inside... with the studio pup BB along with a few of paintings this artist has collected by other artists... that so inspire too.

Thank you again for being a part of this journey-Karen Ann Hitt

Would love to hear back from you, penny for your thoughts-- ok, maybe even a nickel

PS; That light socket you see just above cabinet above sofa far left, is where water was running out, blanketing... much. 

Boca Pass at its best, sunset with the Tarpon Running. The Original Boca Grande (Gasperilla Island) Lighthouse, 1927 was the rear range light of Port Boca Grande.  Its light, now out, decommissioned as of 2017, but its iconic landmark continues to shine. As its landmark is a highlight at Boca Pass, it adds perspective to the scale of this cloudscape.  This a view, from the pass as the Tarpon were running.

Boca Set, painted for Karen Ann's Solo Exhibit at the Hughes Gallery, Inc  which runs through the season, their 21st season on the island of Boca Grande.

Framed in a custom, hand carved, hand made in the USA 'signature' frame - designed exclusively for Karen Ann Hitt - An Original Hitt,  Gallery Paintings.  Pictured in the second picture and measures 31 x 65"

Tarpon Season in Boca Grande is in full swing right now.  These paintings came from being out in the pass sunrise to sunset Fishing for the prehistoric Tarpon.  The fish are always released for another day.  It is a sport fishing tournament like none other, and Boca Grande is known for theirs.  Here is the view at Sunrise

Boca Rise

25 x 53 " framed

Zoom in on the horizon here, and you will see that the lighthouse marks the pass.  A popular beach and park on the island, takes on a whole new view from the water side, where the fish run and the skies seem almost endless.  The land giving scale to the skyscapes.

Hope you enjoy these windows to Boca Grande from the Pass side. The joy of getting to paint these scenes, endless, and a timeless window to bring one home to our glorious skyscapes everyday.

Happy Merry Month of May, and Tarpon Season to you.

Thank you for being a part of

Karen Ann Hitt - An Original Hitt Art

A quick note to share that Newest Major Studio Painting,

Deep Promises is featured art at Fine Art Connoisseur Website. Hope that you enjoy this painting, and the background on it...

Look closely at the horizon for the scale of this real life experience...

Fine Art Connoisseur Featured Art

Save the date: 1 March 2021 when solo exhibit officially opens at the Hughes Gallery Inc, 333 Park Ave. Boca Grande FL

When there is but one road to take, and pressing on the only option: well, that therefore is what one does… forge ahead.

A painting is often so much more than just that to the Artist.

  This Artists desire is to transport the viewer to the “…at that moment” in hopes that they too may now experience the awe the Artist felt, and the desire to reflect it, and you then experience it too.

  “Mile Marker 212” though an ‘oh so real’ experience; as worked on this in the studio, realized how it told the story of my past year too.  Yes, a picture paints a thousand words.

Two Decembers back now, moved my public Art Studio to a private location, for the soul purpose of affording me opportunity to JUST paint!  It, an exciting time; a dream come true actually. 

Then my mom’s health took a turn. A whirlwind of hospital, nursing homes and assisted living, circled.  We did not know then that this was our mom’s end of life battle beginning.  She, peacefully went ‘Home’ in February.

The painting, Light Before the Dawn, was started last January, in the hope of having it done in time for an entry that month.  It was finished this past January, and delivered to the Hughes Gallery – and it sold in less than a week.  Honored beyond measure by that.  Thrilled to be a part of the gallery, and this season they are celebrating their 20^th anniversary.  The painting reflected the experience of watching the ‘Super Blood Wolf Moon’ set.  There will only be 28 of these moons, this century.  Its rising was clouded over, so I set my alarm for 3am in hopes of experiencing its setting.  And boy o boy did i.  There are no words for the aurora of its presence.  The figure here true to size, and so reflected its amazing scale on the horizon.  The painting sought to also reflect the effects this moon had on the tides, as the usual calm gulf, crashed up over the rocks this early morn.  Painted in a humble attempt to capture a rare and fleeting moment, a true labor of love. 

That labor is sincerely how an artist breathes.  Being sidelined from it is surreal.  Having opportunity to paint, though it may in fact be called work, it is a blessing of a gift to have the opportunity to do so. FINALLY I AM WORKING IN THAT STUDIO MOVED TO TWO DECEMBERS AGO!

In review of this past year: February lost mom; March had 2^nd surgery on foot in hopes of correcting and taking out a nerve tumor there.  The 1^st surgery a failure.  Verdict is out on the 2^nd.  There will not be a 3^rd.  As soon as I could walk, I HITT the road. Dang foot still a mess. Anyways,  actually drove straight through to San Francisco, to be faculty at PACE8.  I left SWFL in my trusty steed of a Tahoe on Monday afternoon, and miraculously arrived to the event by Wednesday Night in San Francesco.  Not recommend M.O. – life dictated that timing: 87 year old dad, a thanksgiving – NEVER an obstacle.  Thrilled to be at the Plein Air Convention and Expo, for now my 7^th year, think 4^th as faculty..  Honored to report that am blessed to be faculty as a field painter again this year in Co.  The list of faculty, can’t wait myself! ALWAYS LEARN SO MUCH while at PACE! Also hoping hubby and I will celebrate our 5^th wedding anniversary there.  Hubby is a great sport, we even put Tuscan PACE on our honeymoon stop.  Yes another time HITT the road for 5 months, cris-crossing the USA.  Our USA Honeymoon taken in our home on wheels.  From PACE last year, since I was already in CA drove up to our property in the Eastern Sierras.  We hope to make it a landing pad for that said house on wheels.  Have never seen the sierras in late spring, still lots of snow-- Beautiful.  Started a plein Air while there, it got knocked over by winds, and even a manmade interference; the electrical linesman testing lines managed to get his truck stuck in the soft spring ground, literally right in front of me.  Lots of hazards in Plein Air, can’t make most of it up! Hope to finish this painting back in the studio next week.

From the Sierras headed to Utah.  OPA exhibit was coming there, and an opportunity – due to family emergencies had to cancel last year; Artist in Residence at Maynard Dixon’s Living Museum at the Thunderbird Foundation.  Quite by surprise was blessed with this opportunity this year on my way back home.  Just to make it extra special, every lilac was in bloom while I was there. A wonderful childhood memory of my mom’s lilacs that surrounded our home growing up.  Though Zion beckoned, so did these lilacs, right outside the kitchen door of the log home built in the 30’s.  Honored this painting won an award in the Plein Air Salon.

From there headed back over a couple other mountain ranges on my way back home to SW FL.  Literally driving through every weather condition, rain, sleet, snow, ice…. and yay, even sunshine.  There are a lot of miles to cover between CA to FL and this Artist loves HITTing the Road to discover them.  Lost track of how many times the trusty steed and I have traveled cross country.  Yup, the journey is the destination. 

Returned home just in-time for hubby and I to take a mini road trip of our own up the Carolinas.  Our last get away together before getting both my knees replaced.  Ran – pun intended—from these surgeries as long as I could.  Foot healed enough, it was time.  Crazy, on our way back from the Carolina, with me driving the house on wheels, our RV was rear ended by another RV in a rain storm.  Scary stuff!  Joked at the time, it was God’s sense of humor to take my mind off of the knee replacement surgery.  We barely made it home in time for pre-surgery tests, after originally giving ourselves extra days.  Today the house on wheels is still in the shop, and our little scrunched jeep, went from all smiles to its new look—angry bird.  Nope can’t make this stuff up!

Mid-June got 1^st new knee.  Major ouch is an understatement.  Complication, a 2^nd surgery, a manipulation.  Because of scar tissue, though I did all my PT etc, was needed and it did finally get my knee bending as it should. Yes, OUCH!  Three and a half months later, 2^nd knee replaced. I didn’t even chicken out!  PTL recovery went much smoother – though still beyond a bear and I am still in PT in an attempt to build up my leg muscle strength.  Bad knees since the age of 12 and three major surgeries within months of each other have left my muscles way weak.  Having to teach some of them how to work again.  Yup – a bear – still have vice grips it feels like on both of my knees. But at long long last am able to be painting again in the studio.  The inspirations feel like they want to explode!  It truly is a glorious time.  Life is hard.  God is so dang good.

Just when thought smooth sailing… January this year turned out to be terrifying life battles for family again.  Completely NEVER expected for your young nephew.  There are no words to describe when the ICU doctor tells his dad, if he has family, it may be time to call them to come see Bradley.  His organs were being overwhelmed in his life battle. If his fever didn’t go down, he wasn’t going to make it. Terrifying ! No words!   Many nights on 3^rd shift so his dad could get some rest for the daytime battleground.  Thankful to report nephew is no longer the most critical patient in ICU and he has made it out of ICU to a regular room to complete his recovery.  Prayers by many moved many a mountain to have recovery his path.  PTL as we continue to keep him in our prayers. He is still in the hospital. Recovery remains his path PTL!

It is mine too, recovery that is.  Everyday a little better, and before long this all will be a distant memory.  Yes, a picture paints a thousand words.  When there is but one road to take, even seeing the storms ahead, pressing on remains the only GOOD option.  So very thankful to be painting again and hoping to be given permission to once again HITT the road soon  too.  There are many a mountain to climb.  PTL and paintings to paint.  Oh, and to go with my two new knees, the Steed got a new transmission!  Whoo hoo!  200,000 here we come!

Stay tuned for some of our amazing Florida skies in PAINT. 

Interrupted by “Mile Marker 212” Its been quite the journey to get here.  Blessings abound.

(Instagram Video Post of Mile Marker 212)

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding:

In ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT.    

<>< read rest at will. Never mean to offend. Simply shared from quiet time chair--

Other hat ‘In His Light Before The Dawn’ addition:

Couldn’t get back to sleep.  Rose at 3am I think.  It now 4:29 to be exact, according to phone.

Painting “Mile Marker 212” & Proverbs 3:5-6 a perfect pairing.  Anita sent ‘Jesus Calling’ devotion, right when closing quiet

time, year in review, getting ready to turn to Your Living Word; and it was literally delivered.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. <><

Indeed- Godspeed.  “Mile Marker 212” when there is but one road to take and we can see and even know that there are some fierce storms ahead – by faith we press on down that road.

Not blindly or even foolishly; simply pragmatically and faithfully so.  Turning back doesn’t keep the storm from doing so.

Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I Am with you; be not dismayed, for I AM your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. <><

Isaiah 40:26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens.  Who created all these? He who brings out the starry hosts one by one, and calls them each by name.  

Because of His great power and Mighty strength, not one of them is missing.<><

Faith is a strength not in self.  Frankly it’s the opposite of that.

<><

Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

The Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who HOPE IN THE LORD will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

They will run and not grow weary;

They will walk and not be faint. <><

Let me repeat therefore Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

In ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight <><

Life IS hard- God IS good.

All that I am and all that I do, come thru eyes of faith.  Yes, weariness is a part; doubts in self are too.  Then, by faith we are reminded that that, is in fact the GOOD NEWS!

WE ARE NOT IN-CONTROL

Thank YOU GOD!

There truly is a peace beyond understanding – a peace like no other.

It is in trusting that God knows.  It is in trusting that Gods will is perfect.  Yes, even when we don’t see what we want to see, or get what we want to get, or are not free of the pain we don’t want to experience. 

No matter the outcome, by faith we may know that God WILL work ALL things together for His GOOD purposes.  Keep the faith.  Press on.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose <><

Don’t think that your 3lbs of brain measures up to the Creator of it and the heavens and and and …

ALL CREATION.

Keep the faith.  You are allowed to cry when you are weary.  God will either clear the storm or His child.

God will either clear the storm – OR- enable you to overcome it.

God is able.

All things are possible WITH God.

The key – WITH

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 21a to Him be glory…

<>< 

Matthew 19:26  Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but WITH God ALL things are possible.”<><

Where does my strength come from? The LORD.

Underline in your mind “ALL THINGS” not some, ALL!

So, in all of this, though vice-grips feel like they remain on my knees when  I wake, walk, work…. Exceedingly more than I could have ever hoped for or imagined does too.

Thanks be to God.

So very thankful.  Life is hard, yes, GOD IS GOOD…

Therefore, hold on to the good.

In Jesus’ precious name- Amen.

That moment just before the sun breaks the horizon and it electrifies the sky, is a passion to this artists.  Seeking to humbly reflect its effects and hopefully enable the viewer to experience that moment too.  Arising, indeed, in spirit and view.  Fresh off the easel and just delivered to the Hughes Gallery in Boca Grande, FL celebrating their 20th Season.  Very honored to be a part.

Hughes Gallery

333 Park Avenue, Boca Grande, FL 33921

941.964.4273