Artistic Release

 July 20, 2007…

This painting proves that “art is therapy” for me. I woke up dreading the day… nine years ago this day my sister Kristi was killed in a car accident. Anyone who has gone through a similar situation knows the process… you live out that day remembering every detail minute by minute replaying the awful turn of events in your minds-eye like a bad movie that you can’t turn off. The day started in that fashion and I found myself running a gamut of emotions… so I decided to take my paints to work and get lost in painting. This painting of Kristi is the result. I found that as I painted my mind and mood transformed. It was as if I was spending time visiting her instead of replaying the events that happened… art is therapy… thank God…

 Kristi… 8×6″ Oil on canvas, alla prima, July 20, 2007.

Did this drawing during the wee hours of this morning… it was my way of spending time with a special friend….

“Time with Kristi”… 10″x8″ Charcoal and Chalk on gessoed masonite with a burnt umber/burnt sienna tint, July 20, 2006.

Happy New Year to each of you… May you be blessed and be a blessing this year.

As promised… I want to share the painting I did of Kristi for my parent’s Christmas gift. The source was a poor quality photograph taken with a wide angle lens (causing the facial features to distort a bit) but the photo captures the spirit of my sister… she loved life and lived it to the top!

Reference photograph:

The cool thing about painting this one was that I felt like I got to spend two days alone with her as I worked on it.

A great visit at that!

I miss her…

Kristi… 16″x12″ Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas, 2005.

Bernie

Matthew is a cool, goodlooking young toddler who is loved by many people… The two at the top of that list are his parents… Chris and Mary… with my family not being to far down it. Please keep Chris and Mary in your prayers as this will be Matthew’s first Christmas with Jesus and away from them physically…  he will always be present in their hearts and memories.  A tragic accident took him away to soon but it is amazing how someone so young touched so many lives. I felt lead to paint this portrait as a way to work through my own saddness and give Chris and Mary a keepsake of their special boy.

“Matthew”… 16″x12″ Oil on Stretched Canvas, 2005.

 The painting was made from a photo I snapped of Matthew the last time we saw him.

The Christmas Season reminds us of the importance of children…

God loved us enough to leave the comfort of Heaven… wrap himself in swaddling clothes… and come to us as a baby born in a manger…

because of that…

those that believe will see Him and Matthew again.

Bless you all…

Bernie