Longevity

I recently created 15 new artworks for a Gallery section of my book (due out in November!) and during the process of creating them I joked with my family and friends that if they stood still long enough, they would end up as inspiration for one of these 15 pieces. I had already created 30 works for the book and these 15 were added when I thought I was already finished. Those first few days of coming up with new ideas had me worried because I wanted them to be fresh and new and nothing seemed to be coming to me......until......my friend Julie stood still at Yoga long enough for me to get inspired :). She even went so far as to MOVE ME, so I dedicated this little piece to her, titled Longevity.

On a recent and much deserved vacation in Hawaii, Julie returned with a beautiful new tattoo of a turtle on her back, just below her shoulder. As I admired it she told me how she picked the turtle. She turned to me and said, "The turtle is a symbol for longevity." She paused and added, "That means a lot to me because of my diabetes and my kids." Julie has four beautiful children, including twin three year olds and she is an amazing mother to them all and it really moved me that she would place this permanent symbol on her body as a totem for a long life well lived with those she loves most.