Lucky To Have Good Friends

This weekend in Chicago was so good. My heart is overflowing with gratitude for my friend Ron for taking such good care of us this weekend, for my husband Ben for being my support system through all the heavy lifting, for my Mother in law who watched our kids, for my amazing art collecting friends in Chicago who came out to see me again and for my newest collectors who made my weekend a major success. It is a real treat to be able to mix fun with my work and my passion. Oh and let's not forget to thank Mother Nature for giving us the most beautiful weekend of weather in Chicago. I know how very lucky we were to be missed by the weather that many artists faced in St. Louis this year.

There's Ron holding "Re-Connecting" up in it's new home.

"Re-Connecting" on the wall.

Ron and Ben enjoying the second half of the Mizzou game.



Ron and Ben making fun of people. Don't you just love the straight faces they are trying to keep?

Re-Connecting - A Painting for Ron and Rey



Re-Connecting - Ron and Rey's Commissioned Painting 24"x36"

Ron is one of mine and Ben's best friends from Mizzou. We were dorm buddies, apartment building mates, roommates and Ron was in our wedding. We had kind of lost touch for a while, as old friends sometimes do. When I heard that Ron was living in Chicago, I e-mailed him letting him know that that we would be in town for the Lakeview East Art Fair in Chicago. Being the generous person that he is, he invited us to stay with he and his partner Rey.  I am so grateful for this opportunity to re-connect with him and get to know Rey. It is a tradition to stay with them now every year when we go up for the fair. Ron and Ben go play while I work the fair and then we go out for dinner and drinks afterwards. Ron even helps us set up and take down! It feels kind of like a family reunion when we get to see each other and we look forward to it all year.

This year Ron told me they were ready for me to create a painting for their dining room. They have been remodeling their home for a while and they are doing a beautiful job. Can't wait to see it now that it is finished! I am calling this painting Re-Connecting.

So...if you are one of my Chicago art friends/collectors, please remember to come see me this Saturday 10-6 and Sunday10-5 on Broadway between Halstead and Aldine Booth #50. I'll be the one with the guys with some type of Mizzou-wear on. They never leave home without it!

Ron, Me with long hair, and Ben 2010