The Cactus Crown
Spring in the desert is magical! The colors are spectacular: yellows, oranges, pinks, sage and vibrant greens! The wildlife, like the Chuckwalla with his orange stripe along his back, are sunning on the warm rocks. The blanket of bright yellow wild flowers are as far as the eye can see. The stately Quail and the spunky Cactus Wren are singing, inviting us into their desert home to take in all the beauty! And the warm bright sun shining down over it all…truly magical… there is a freshness in the air!
The cacti like the Ocotillo, Prickly Pear and Cholla are adorned like desert royalty with stunning blooms that seem to pop-up overnight. With every spring comes a fresh start, a glimpse of how truly spectacular Mother Nature is… gently reminding us of the resiliency and strength we all have within!
Happy Spring!
xo, Jana
Betty & Bill
She taught me how to sew, he taught me how to drive a golf cart. She graced me with her wisdom , he with his sense of humor. They, Betty & Bill, are my grandparents and while I was very young when they passed on, my memories are strong!
Some called her Elizabeth, some called her Betty but I called her Grandmommy…maker of the most delicious chocolate chip cookies & peach pie on the planet … and she, was a strong and tough cookie, being the youngest of eight siblings. Hard work and responsibility were at the top of the list of household duties. Creative & talented she was, with her watercolor art and maker of copper plates and kettles. An amazing seamstress too…making my tennis dresses & nightgowns and outfits for me, my sister and cousins …teaching me how to sew on her pedal-driven singer sewing machine was a thrill! She loved to entertain: dinner parties, bridge groups … always adding those special touches, like hand painted place cards that made her guests feel welcome. She had a green thumb, loving flowers, always growing beautiful violets and roses.
The kindest man you will ever meet, Granddaddy Bill. He taught me card tricks, magic tricks, shared jokes and how to steer the golf cart straight. I can still hear his jovial laugh and see that twinkle in is eye! He was a hard-working, dedicated man and had a kind word for all he came across in his day.
A glamorous woman Betty was, making sure she had the perfect earrings on to match her beautiful dresses or pant suits, along with a bit of lip color to polish off the outfit. Always put together and full of glam! She kept in shape by stretching every morning and swimming laps in the community pool. He, always dapper, loving her on his arm as they would enter a party, always coordinating his tie with her outfit…a darling couple , complementing each other beautifully.
I see a little bit of each of them in me … forever in my heart, this petite but mighty woman & this jovial kind man …Betty & Bill to most, but always Grandmommy & Granddaddy to me.
xo Jana
Hello “White Poppies”
It is always fun to visit my work and the lovely people who own it. This piece is titled “White Poppies”, painted in 2010 and sold at my first art show. The family has a spectacular art collection and I am honored to be one of the represented artists on display in their beautiful home!
Kindness
There are times we are the givers and times we are the receivers…this is the beautiful rhythm of life! With every new day comes the opportunity to spread kindness, to give. Giving comes in so many forms …it doesn’t matter the big or small of it … even something as simple as a smile and friendly hello can have a big impact on someone’s life!
Spreading kindness brings me great joy, knowing that I have brightened someone’s day brings a warmth to my heart. When it comes to being on the receiving end, I have learned how important it is to others to accept their kind offerings. I often have found myself thinking “I can do this all on my own… I don’t want to bother anyone”. My brother once shared with me this important thought: “Don’t deny others the joy of giving … you know the beauty in this.” We will all need help at times in our life and accepting acts of kindness blesses all hearts involved.
This past year I have been the recipient of such incredible kindness! I am deeply touched by the beautiful souls who have come along my side. Thank you with all of my heart… I receive with gratitude, your lovely acts of kindness!
And so, the beautiful rhythm of giving and receiving continues…with grateful hearts and love abound!
love, Jana
The Snowflake
Have you ever pondered over how incredible it is that there are no two snowflakes alike? As I look out on the majestic Red Rocks of Sedona, now covered in fluffy white powder, I am in awe! A peaceful feeling came over me as I watched the intricately unique snowflakes dance to their landing spot. And as the red rocks slowly became a blanket of white, it occurred to me…this is how God created us too, with our own uniqueness about us … each of us woven with our own design…just like the snowflake! Magical and breathtaking it all truly is! xo, Jana
Riding Into The New Year
A childhood friend and I would sing songs late into the night, sometimes the same song over and over again….with Glen Campbell’s, “Rhinestone Cowboy” always a headliner! We had no idea the lyrics were so meaningful. To us, it was simply a song about a cowboy, being sung by a handsome cowboy, and was really fun to sing along to….and loud!
As I grew, I learned of the meaning. What I learned from this song has served me well in life… it is about working hard, even through adversity. It is about being proud of who you authentically are. It is about being proud of your accomplishments, not allowing anyone or anything dull your sparkle …it is about never giving up! It is about dreaming of the possibilities & going for it…and, it is about holding your head up high humbly, with dignity, and with grace! Maybe our teenage selves intuitively knew this was a good one to have on repeat!
I hope you will join me in welcoming the new year, “like a rhinestone cowboy… riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo” … being proud of how far we have come and confident in the journey, with all of the new things that have yet to be. Wishing you all a beautiful & bright 2023… sing it loud!
xo, Jana
“Rhinestone Cowboy” written by Larry Weiss /Recorded by Glen Campbell
Paint The World Pink
Gratitude is a beautiful and powerful expression of love! Gratitude can be expressed in many ways: in a symbol, in a practice, how we think, in words and in our actions. This expression of love expands hearts, reaching deep, having the power to transform lives! We can express gratitude to the earth, to the animals, to ourselves, to each other!
It makes sense that the color pink is associated with this beautiful expression, as pink also represents love. Pink is a calming, happy, peaceful color… a color that has always spoken to me. The color pink makes an appearance in each of my paintings, whether it be incognito or right there in plain sight, pink is always present, sending a gratefulness vibe out into the world.
I strive to paint the days pink, showing my gratitude, even when struggles arrive. My heart is grateful for this life that has been blessed upon me and all of the animals, nature & amazing people in it… keeping my heart open to that beautiful, soft and gentle pink color, shining it upon others so they may know what a blessing they are to me and to the world! Imagine a world painted pink…a beautiful & glorious gratitude-filled world!
xo, Jana
photo credit: Pinterest