~ The Passionate Artist ~

"Holding on to Faith"

(IN THE COLLECTION OF JEAN & ROBERT OLSON SR.)

16 x 20 Oil on Canvas

Click on painting to enlarge

~ Experiences of My Life That Have Brought Me to Where I Am ~

I have been painting since I was a teenage girl. I started out painting watercolors accented with India ink. I was encouraged by my parents and my art teacher, Mr. Fred Bardelli, to frame them and try to sell them in the little dime store called Tabors in the small town of Wallace, Idaho, where my high school was located. I did, and they were displayed in the store window. I must say, I was a very proud young artist.

I was married in 1980, and my former husband and I had three beautiful children through the 1980's. Our children are such blessings in my life. I managed to paint a bit through their growing up years, and I even sold a few oil paintings.

I enjoy acrylics, and watercolor, but my favorite medium is, and most of my paintings have been created in oils. It is so forgiving and workable. I have painted landscapes, seascapes, still-life paintings, abstracts, animals, and symbolic fantasy paintings. I have even tried my hand at portraiture painting. I also enjoy painting on glass with enamel paints. After I paint the glass, usually stemware, I bake it in the oven, and it is ready to be used as a wine or champagne glass.

I love art in all forms. I used to have a very small floral arrangement business. I used all silk and dried flowers, and loved decorating and arranging them in beautiful pots, and baskets, and whatever beautiful vessels I might happen upon, like elegant tea cups or beautifully painted canisters. I sold these pieces from my home, and at a few craft fairs. I used beautiful fabrics draped under the arrangements to showcase my intoxicating designs. I also designed wall hangings with my floral designs.

I have three beautiful children. Chris, Sarah and Kaylah are all three grown now. My youngest daughter Kaylah became very ill in 1996. We almost lost her. Her kidneys were both functioning at below 10 percent each, and losing more of their ability to function by the hour. I was told many facts that I would never have guessed I'd hear in my lifetime, including the fact that Kaylah was now in what they doctors called "End Stage Renal Disease." I was more than terrified. Needless to say, I set my artistic endeavors on the back burner to be at my baby Kaylah's side. My main mission in life instantly became to take care of her, and to be whatever she needed me to be, weather it be mommy, nurse, doctor, friend, shot giver, peritoneal dialysis performer, medicine giver, a hand to hold, a neck to squeeze, a guard at her door to keep germs or noise out, or just a non-judgmental and unconditionally loving Mama to express her pain, and hurt, and bewilderment to. My other two children, Chris and Sarah, stayed home most of the time with their Dad while I spent days and weeks at the hospital with Kaylah. Life was very difficult. Their father was, at the time, a very active alcoholic. At the time of this post, he has been sober for about 15 years. Kaylah has since had two different kidney transplants in the past 16 years. Her last kidney was lovingly given to her by her brave sister Sarah. My son Chris wanted to, and so did I, but we were not matches. My dear sister Sally was also tested, but it was determined, after she volunteered to be tested, that Sarah was the best one to donate her kidney to her sister. That was a very important day, in May of 2011, for all of my family's lives. All three of my children are healthy, thriving, and happy today.

Now that my 3 children are all three grown and are very involved with their own lives. I have a lot more time to devote to my painting. I have also been teaching private oil painting lessons since October of 2012. I very much enjoy teaching.

I feel that my paintings are going to be going in a new and exciting direction. I am finding that I have a strong desire to express my deep emotions in a way that I have only begun to. My painting called "Spiritual Love" is a good example of the direction I expect to be going in. Look for more work like this from me in the coming future.

Thank you for being here. Please enjoy.

Sincerely, and with love, Cindy

~ The Passionate Artist ~

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About Me ~ The Passionate Artist ~

"Spiritual Love"

~ Experiences of My Life That Have Brought Me to Where I Am ~

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