365 days of drawing ~ day fifty-eight ~ Trees and Tents with Leigh

The last pencil stroke has been made.  I am so glad to share with you this portrait.  The abundance of love and pure joy radiates from this photo of two beautiful souls.  This marks the beginning of more portraits on the way that you can read about here .  When I repeatedly witnessed the love and light my friend Angela holds for her sister Leigh, I was touched.  Touched because I have a brother and we are not close as I would like.  But I know just how much pain, anguish and sorrow I would feel if he passed before his time.  So that led me to begin this portrait that started on day seven that you can read about here.  It was an amazing trip filled with so much healing, love, light, sadness, remembrance, friendship, and resulted in a masterpiece.  

I wanted Angela to have the last word and tell you about her sister.....

Trees and Tents with Houd

Arriving at Camp Korb, we were always greeted by Houd willing and able to help us setup our tent or camper no matter if it was light or dark outside.  The photo above was taken by my husband accidentally one night while we were helping Houd setup his tent after dark.  We were all fumbling around with tent poles and clips and my husband had this grand idea to use his cell phone as a flashlight.  He accidentally pressed the camera button and took this picture, having a good laugh about it when finding it among our photos, it is now treasured.  The hardest thing for me is traveling to the mountains to see our chosen family and knowing Houd won't be there to greet us, help us setup our camper and spend time with.  Mind you, there is plenty of our loving friends ready to greet us and give us a hand - no shortage there.  Just isn't the same without him.

365 days of drawing ~ day fifty-six

Feeling accomplished.  Nothing but good energy, love and happiness put into this work of art.  I refused to work on it while under any negative influences.  This is the part where I stare at the drawing and compare it to the photo compulsively.  I am ecstatic, very pleased with this result.  I will stare intently, scrutinize all angles before I add my signature and date.  I will also say a prayer over it once completed.  Over the next two days you can expect to see the completed portrait with a story, call to action and original photograph.  Then I will be taking a little break over the weekend to spend some much needed time away with other mamas from my MOPS group.  I will return refreshed, full of giggles and ready to tackle my next masterpiece.....Houd, my dear friend.  I have been thinking of you and missing you.

365 days of drawing ~ day fifty-five

Nearly wrapped up.  Finished off the rest of the background except for one small, tiny area.  In the next few days I will let my OCD take over to fix all the minor imperfections.  The portrait is just a few short steps away from completion. 

365 days of drawing ~ day fifty-four

No drawings today.  Sad day.

Missing Houd

Missing my friend today.  Remembered a CD he made for us, listened again. 

365 days of drawing ~ day fifty-three

Still finishing up shading and details, not finished yet - but soon.  Almost ready.  Almost ready to reveal the photo, reveal the story - soon.