Happy Mother's Day! Contest winners announced!

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"Happy Sunflower 2", Oil on masonite

Happy Mother's Day to every mother, grandmother, stepmother, mother-in law and Spiritual mother out there!

Today I had to choose the winner of my "Tell me a Story about my Painting" contest, and believe me, it wasn't easy. (See painting below and contest rules here ).

I had so many fine choices that in the end I decided that I couldn't choose just one winner. I chose my two favorites below and congratulations to everyone who tried their hand at creative writing. I was very moved by many of the wonderful stories that you sent me and just wish I had a prize for everyone! Here are the results of the contest, and the winning entries!

1st prize: Lynn Biederstadt is the winner of the free sunflower painting above, which includes free shipping, of course. Her ability to summarize a dream state that perhaps we've all experienced at some point in our lives, with so few words and yet such insight and eloquence, blew me away frankly.

It's the dream we surrender reluctantly

as we wake;

the full, whole vision we never quite own in life.

The color is a dance in the perfect place

where human love and eternal nature meet,

rich and whole and, joyously, bigger

than we will ever be.

It is the breath we would breathe

if we could breathe flowers.

2nd Place: Nicole Dailey is my second place winner, though I must say that I think I liked both entries almost equally. Nicole's story was written beautifully, a summation of what we all know in our hearts is the panacea for everything that has ever hurt us- Love. Nicole has won a framed print of "Garden Tryst", since I know that she must have really liked the painting in order to be moved to write so passionately about it! Here is her story:

He came to me last night. As soon as he stepped from the cottage, my hand reached for him. Yearning. My fingers clasped tightly around his. I had so much to say, words of the children to share, reassurances I needed. Yet I remained silent, not wanting to mar this moment. He tucked my arm in his and our strides were even once more as we wandered through the garden. I was barefoot but no stones hurt my feet. The sun was radiant overhead but I need not shield my eyes. A soft wind rustled the folds of my dress leaving me cool and at ease. The anguish in my heart ceased. There was a peace I had not felt for the past five years.

He spoke and I listened. He spoke of noticing something new and beautiful each day in the garden. He spoke of the quiet and calm when the dew glittered in the fading moonlight. He spoke of the dahlias, each with its own vibrant hue. Each different from the other but together they swayed in a great sea of beauty. He then stopped along the path at a single rose. It was pale pink, in full bloom and surrounded by three rosebuds.

"Of all the flowers around us, this is my special one" he said. "See how it turns up to the light. Look how its petals shelter the tiny buds, protecting them as they prepare to blossom. The stem is strong; a storm may test it but will never splinter it. I water my rose. I nourish it. I speak to it every day and if it seems a bit sad, a little love is all she needs," he explained as he lightly traced his finger along the ruffle of a petal.

As I bent to inhale the rose's fragrance, he began to walk ahead of me. I stood and touch my cheek where I have so often felt the gentle kiss of a breeze. He turned and smiled. "Thank you," I whispered as I started to wake.

" Garden Tryst", 12 x16 , oil on canvas

Congratulations to all of the participants and Happy Mother's Day everyone! I think we'll do this again soon since I had so much fun reading your stories!

a Painting a day, Daily painters, original art , affordable original art, paintings after Monet, colorist art,contemporary impressionism, Monet's Garden at Argenteuil, creative writing contests,
Impressionist Garden scenes, free painting opportunity.