Smile!....

Aside from... and accompanying the before-mentioned gift and blessing of music that "I" was endowed with by my parents and family... "I" was blessed with the gift of "The Smile"... and the "gift of the gab." I say this without any intent to be funny... or to add humor.

These three gifts have carried "Me"...my siblings and families through each moment of all of our journeys, either as individuals or as extended family. These gifts have brought us together in joy... carried us beyond sadness and yielded acceptance for each one of us in the presence of unique situations with groups and situations that we meet in our varied daily existences.

I have grown to better understand the power and value of these gifts, as they have applied to my own journey up to the Present. We as a family are known... and I believe are respected and enjoyed as "people", simply because we enjoy... no revel in creating and taking part in opportunities that provide conversation/ discussion... story-telling... joking... teasing...performing... laughter and "all things good" on this planet - Art... Music... Dance... Literature.

Smiles play more of an integral part in daily lives... than frowns. Speaking generally... I would offer that we are each... in our own unique fashion... cheerful human beings... and that cheerfulness was inherited more likely more through Nurture... than through Nature.

We certainly did have our family "moments"in those early years as all families do... and we still do still do from time to time. However, I believe that all of us have found our own doses of Happiness... Success and Acceptance because of the gifts offered and modelled earlier in our parents' home.

"I" was truly blessed to have received these gifts. They have more worth and value to "Me" than "things or personal wealth. To live in one's earliest years in the midst of song... laughter and to know that your "Voice" matters and is valued prepares a child to commence his or her human journey filled with Hope... Tolerance... Generosity... Compassion... and Courage. These values form the value set that not only promotes Self-esteem... but as importantly, also the respect for the Self of "Others" as well.

An authentic Smile... capital "S" fully intended and heavy on the meaning of "authentic"... is a powerful tool and each of us, as Human Beings possesses the capability to create one. We are the only species which can! That smile has the potential to open closed doors... to bring joy.. even to disarm anger and fear. A simple... authentically given Smile along with Music and Art knows no borders... translates the same meaning in all languages... requires no intellectual or developmental capacity to be understood... absorbed... and passed forward!

In closing, I offer a few of my own images that make "Me" Smile.... and... the beautiful lyrics of a favourite song. It gives me comfort and Joy to share these images... and to posit... that these "Smiles"... on canvas will be smiling on someone... perhaps years after my own smile has vanished from earthy existence. Is that not at least some form of immortality? Enough for "Me"!

The Universe is mysterious and conspires to offer opportunity... if "You" listen and risk acting. Each of the selected paintings were purchased by clients who like "Me" and my family
smile and laugh as a matter of fact. I think that they were attracted by the "Smile" feeling that is imbedded in each of these pictures... more strongly than the subject matter itself. In any event... at present they each currently reside in smiling households! May that be always true!

Smile

Music by Charlie Chaplin, Lyrics byJohn Turner and Geoffrey Parsons

Performed in 1954 by Nat King Cole

Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though it's breaking

When there are clouds in the sky,

You'll get by

If you'll smile through your fear and sorrow

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You'll see the sun come shining through to you.

Light up your face with gladness

Hide every trace of sadness

Although a tear may be ever so near

That's the time you keep on trying

Smile, what's the use of crying?

You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just smile.

That's the time you must keep on trying

Smile , what's the use of crying?

You'll find that life's still worthwhile

If you just smile

Hope that my blog and my paintings add a Smile to your life... as yours do to mine!

Keep on Smiling!... and Good Painting to All!

Jpeg#1 - Summer Reliquary-oil on canvas 30x24 inches

Jpeg#2 - Summer...Simply Stated - oil on panel 20x24 inches SOLD

Jpeg#3 - Things Go Better With Coke! - oil on panel 16x12 inches SOLD

Jpeg#4 - Lost In the 60's- oil on canvas 20x16 inches SOLD

Jpeg#5 - A Demi-tasse Filled With Summer - oil on canvas 16x12 inches SOLD

Jpeg#6 - Evening Greeting at Les Eboulements - oil on canvas 20x24 inches SOLD