
“To be an artist is to believe in life.” Henry Moore
I never had a proper wedding. But years ago, I attended a ceremony that I wish was my own. I didn’t know many of the people there. My husband was a high school friend of the groom but I didn’t really know anyone. I was shy and three months pregnant so I spent most of the wedding watching from the side lines while other people drank alcohol. I sipped on water wishing I could look as classy as the bride in her simple dress. We stuffed ourselves with homemade Ukrainian food but not the cabbage rolls. I still can’t eat cabbage rolls
My husband and I couldn’t afford a wedding gift. He was still a student and I had just graduated from art college which qualified me to do absolutely nothing. But I always said I’d make a painting for them. That was the plan at least. Between raising 2 kids and moving to another country and starting a career in nursing, I forgot about it. Years later, I was reviewing all my old sketches and I found the series I made that special night. Looking at those old sketches, I began making compositions in my head. They were all based on the church and drawings of people at the reception. Even though the image is based on the wedding, I took a great deal of license with the painting. I wanted the surface of the painting to be divided up with shapes of flower petals and it oddly made the church look as if it were made of stone. But really, it was a wooden structure, like most prairie churches. I had fun adding embellishments that weren’t really there, lines and shapes that offered nothing but the joy of playing with different colors next to one another. I allowed myself the pleasure of applying color, not just recording the images, but painting the emotions. There are many different incarnations of this drawing. One sketch has the bride and groom holding hands and flying through the sky like a Marc Chagall painting. But this was my favorite composition.
I brought the the painting to the couple 25 years after it was due. They’re still together and very much in love. The groom teared up when he saw it, obviously still smitten with his bride. I spent an evening with them drinking wine. They told me the story of how they met. Who can resist a romantic story when a man sees the love of his life and does whatever he can to be with her? It’s the plot of almost every romantic comedy. But it’s rarely seen in life.
On the bottom of the canvas I painted the words, “The sky was aflame with roses on the day she said I do.” They have the kind of love everyone wants but not many people get. This painting was for them and for everyone who can find a warm hand to hold at the end of the day and a soft voice to whisper “I love you,” into the shadows of our own loneliness.
This drawing can be downloaded at dalegreenearts.bigcartel.com
For more about Dale:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCab2kZ9Zt-OWhnI5ksRzmqA?view_as=subscriber
https://www.facebook.com/dalegreenearts/notifications/
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If you want to read some of my fiction, download my book, Zoo of Human Frailties, for $2.99 USD https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07YZ123DY
Always loved your drawings and the stories they told
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Thanks Jacqui
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Really lovely story to go with this enchanting painting. The colors and the shapes and best of all, for me, the dancers!
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Your work is wonderful!!
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Thank you so much. That means a lot
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Every painting has a story and you tell yours very well. Thanks for stopping by and liking my blog. Best to you!
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I think that your story here is so beautiful, tender, touching, and honest and your art so fine, that I am happy you liked a post of mine and drew my attention to you. I would hope we would follow each other.
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Thank you David
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Compliments. On your art and that story. 🙂
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Thanks so much.
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Pleasure.
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Wow – I just adore the painting. They must have been so happy!
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They did. I was so happy to finish that project. Like a lot of artsy people I have a few too many WIPs and that one waited a little too long
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Really like the your drawings within your post…
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Thanks. I don’t know which came first, the drawings, or the story
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Your welcome…I started drawing in 2013…I really enjoy it. I’m now looking forward to putting drawings with my poetry or prose.
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I think it’s really good for people to describe their inspiration. It gives depth to the experience. That’s what art is about, connecting with people.
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True…very true. It’s a way of building bridges…definitely.
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I love your drawings AND your writing – my only problem is deciding whether to start with your first post or keep reading backwards. 😉
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Aww thanks Sunny.
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Beautiful work, Dale! Wonderful stories well written, great sketches cleverly updated! Impressive!
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Aww thanks astrobuss.
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This is full of love.. beautiful 😊❤
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Thank you Krishna
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This is such a great story! The art work is perfect!
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Thanks Roth
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Wonderful work and description, Dale
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Thanks Phil
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Your drawings are absolutely amazing! Your stories as well!
Yonnie💜
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Thanks Yonnie. I’m struggling a little bit with my next post
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Oh no! I’m sure all of us experience this. For me it is self-care and pampering time; A walk and meditation; A fun adventures day out.
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It’s no doubt you will or already have come up with your next masterpiece. 🤗
Yonnie💜
InHisCare🙏
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I love your painting, Dale, and the fact that you gifted it to the bride and groom all these years later.
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They loved it. I’m so glad I did it. I was trying to complete some old projects and that one was very old and late in coming but it was worth it.
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…better late than never…
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Beautiful!!
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Thanks Nora
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Somebody liked Lola. That person was also an artist, and when I was about to give her a like, your picture was at the bottom of her post. Perhaps, I’ve been reading the wrong types of blogs before now? Who is to say that Art is not worthy of following, just because other interests get in the way, distracting us towards something else. Your stories are engaging, as is your Art. I was just one of those students once long ago, that needed some credits at Junior College, so I took Art Appreciation. We moved from the Renaissance to Modern Art through a series of slides in which we were encouraged to take notes, or make our own small sketches to help us remember when the final exam came. Then we were invited to the Art Museum in Los Angeles. Our teacher was a docent there, and she conducted a private tour with us, showing, telling, making us remember about what we had learned, what we had seen. A few non-students tagged along, as they too wanted to understand what Art was, and why? Now I am here, and someone is both drawing and telling stories. A perfect combination for someone like me, who tends to write comments filled with stories, then excusing for doing so afterwards….
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Lovely..
Your blog is sl splendid and marvellous. ♥♥♡
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Thanks Sadia. I appreciate that.
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You’re most welcome dear.. 😊
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Beautiful!
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Thank you Phil.
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A custom piece of art; the most dedicated gift you can give
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Thank you Ghost
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