GRATE ART

This small painting was inspired by an old broken grate outside a hardware store. It was painted on location, which means I did not have the comforts of my studio.

Created on YUPO paper lots of years ago, the best part of the painting is its title. I did enjoy painting something so mundane as a broken grate on an old sidewalk. It's sometimes very fascinating to inspect things we see - or don't really see - everyday.

This will be the only post this week since I'll be at a watercolor workshop in beautiful North Carolina for the week. Looking forward to catching up with everyones blogs when I get back.

"GRATE ART'S NOT ALL IT'S CRACKED UP TO BE" Transparent Watercolor on medium weight YUPO 6 x 4"

HOPE

This home's old window is another that I've painted several times. Located on a narrow, busy street in New Hope, Pennsylvania, it represents the charm of Buck County, and its history dates back to Revolutionary times.

I like that I can see all the way through the house and out the distant window. Each time I paint it, the hanging light gets changed, as does the flower box.

This particular painting of the window reminds me of a friend, and even of the house she lived in. She was classic, grabbing life with so much gusto. An eternal optimist, Pat Taylor had an incredibly amazing way of finding good about everything that happened. She knew how to grab life and make the most of it.

The things she valued really mattered, like family and friends. She LOVED to draw and so enjoyed painting.

Like this house, Pat seemed to have beautiful windows to look into and find unexpected treasures. She was transparent, generous, kind, trustworthy, fiercely loyal, and a very good artist. She knew how to change the things she could change and accept the ones she couldn't.

PAT TAYLOR, I will miss you. We all will. I'm so very thankful you were in my life. You made a difference in so so so many ways and were so loved!