The BEST Kind of Surprise!

I love surprises!

On my birthday Mom and Dad phoned from their home in northern Ontario with best wishes and to tell me to expect a surprise in the mail. They were *really* excited about this thing they came across and said they knew I had to have it.

So yesterday afternoon I went to check the mail, and got one of those awesome package notices so I went to Lawrencetown Grocery to pick it up!

Remembering Mom said I had to wait until Stefan was home to take photos of 'before, during, and after' opening my gift, I had to restrain myself.

Then finally!! I show Stefan how to use the camera (he's technologically in the stone ages), I start to unwrap the bombproof taping job...

Meanwhile Stefan is snapping away a hundred photos, trying to be creative (1 of them semi-turned out).

It's a painting!...

O...M...G... It's a painting of Mary's! I always wanted one of her paintings!

I'm totally surprised, shocked, and overcome with nostalgia and so emotionally moved by this special gift in front of me.

Mary Weymark Goss was the first professional artist that came in to my life, and if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be where I am today. She was an incredibly positive influence on me during my last years of high school, and still is today from afar, almost 18 years later.

In my high school, we didn't have an art class. Mary changed that. She began an after school art club, where we were free to create while she provided the materials. Check out her paintings and journals. I hope you get lost and moved by her imagery and life story as much as I do.

I think it was meant to be on my wall so I can gaze at it every evening after my full day of creating. Her paintings are very symbolic, and I wonder about the white creatures, the water and sky elements... If I had seen this one in person, I would have chosen it. But as fate would have it, Mom won it. She and Dad knew it was really meant for me, too. Their generosity always amazes me, never surprises me.

The timing couldn't be better. A few years back Mary was mentoring me, and I'll always remember what she said, "To really honor my artistic self, I need to spend time in my studio every single day, even if it's just cleaning brushes." I admit I wasn't ready then. But I am now. This year I've been working on my art every single day, and I've never felt so good about my life and my future.

Thank you Mom, Dad, and Mary...

Here is Mary's new painting displayed on my wall of cherished art. From left to right, top to bottom: Golden by me, painting by Vanessa Janss, a print from my sister (artist unknown), another gift from my sister by her friend Lois Kapitaniuk, my first watercolour, Mary's painting, my painting Eventide, a print from Christie Shinn, and a painting from Phil Goodrich who is also in my Daily Surf Art group.