My wife paints...

I know several TDPRI members paint. At the moment @hemingway is the only username that comes to mind.

I am consistently amazed that people can start applying paint to a canvass and have the end result be a quality expression of art. As I've said on several occasions, my very best efforts at painting, in any medium, would aspire to looking like an artist's palette.

And for what it's worth, my wife also paints. It's not her day job; it's her therapy. She is a midwife and the owner and operator of the only birth center for miles around. She's a busy lady, and her work can be stressful. Painting is her way of relaxing. She says when she's painting, she can't think of anything else. I relate to that. I feel much the same way about guitar playing and fishing.

The better part of three decades ago, before she became a midwife, she painted. Her medium then was oils. But at a certain point, she gave it up, and became a midwife, and has had a continuous practice in the Greater Corpus Christi area ever since. Just a few months ago, I encouraged her to get back into painting. She did, and has found this outlet of artistic expression to be very relaxing and therapeutic.

My wife finished another painting yesterday. She actually started and finished it in a matter of a few hours, which is another thing that amazes me: the speed with which she paints. Her medium is acrylics now, not oils, so that probably has something to do with it. Still...

I am not going to post a pic of her latest, though I very much want to. I am also being selective of the pics of her paintings that I will post. This is because a number of her paintings, including yesterday's, express her sense of patriotism and her faith. I don't want to see my wife's art used as a springboard for controversy, so I just won't post them here. If anyone's interested, they can start a private conversation with me and ask to see the paintings not shared here.

I don't know what titles my wife has for these paintings. I had my own ideas for what to call her various paintings, but of course ultimately it's her call. Still, I'm going to call them what I call them. If she wants to join TDPRI to correct me, that's her prerogative.

"Autumn Wind & Rain"


"In Flight Over Texas"


"Rainy Day People"


"Tree Tops in the Natchez Trace"


I'd be interested to get impressions from members here, particularly those who also paint. I love my wife, and proud of my wife, and I'm mightily impressed with her artistic ability. But then, what do I know? (The answer to that is "I know what I like.")

So if there is criticism, I would hope that it would be constructive in its intent and kind in its expression. Again, she isn't doing this for money, though she has sold a half dozen or more of her paintings already, including three of the four pictured above.

 

Okay, I didn't know the one I called "Rainy Day People" was something she copied. The second link showed paintings in the same style, but that's fair game, I would believe. That one and "Autumn" were both painted on rainy days. She goes with how she feels.

And again, my wife is under no illusions of making a name for herself, nor is she trying to make a living at this. First and foremost, she paints to express herself and escape the pressures of delivering babies, which even in the best of times can be a stressful occupation. And in times of lockdown and fear? Fuhgeddaboudit!