betty's heART

When I was 12 years old my mother died.  In her bible there was a book mark with a picture of a guardian angel protecting small children as they crossed a bridge.

This is a very famous image by Heiliger Schutzengel.  As a grieving child this image brought me great comfort and throughout my life that picture has been a loving reminder of my mother.

One of the first Kinkade’s I sold here at T.K. at the Village was “Cobblestone Mill.”

A woman came in and asked if we had it.  I didn’t even know what it looked like, but she did and went right to it.  It seems that her and her husband had looked at purchasing the piece before he was deployed to the middle east.  He didn’t come home.  She bought Cobblestone Mill that day.  That was my first experience assisting someone with art that perhaps would help them with their grieving and serve as a future reminder of their departed loved one.  My challenge was keeping it together so I could help her.

On two other occasions I worked with people that were looking for that special artistic remembrance.  One woman had lost both of her parents at the same time.   Her family gathered around her in support while she pondered over “The Guiding Light.”  Her mother had loved Kinkade’s lighthouses and had them hanging in her office.  Now “The Guiding Light” hangs in her home as a loving tribute.

Most recently I worked with a family that had lost their 13 year old daughter in a tragic car accident.  They came in looking for the Kinkade image that had been on the daughter’s memorial card.  The piece was “Nanette’s Cottage.”

In front of this peaceful cottage is a small row boat with a teddy bear perched on one of the seats.  In the back ground there is a church steeple reaching into the heavens offering courage and hope.  There was no hesitation, the whole family was united about having this image to remind them of their darling girl.

I could not hide my tears when working with each of these families.  I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to help them find one piece of their healing puzzle and my prayers are with them all.

Art ennobles us, inspires us, transports us, and can help to heal us.  I believe that art is a gift from God, the artist blessed with the talent so that we may be blessed with their work.  My blessings are being able to represent these incredible artists and having an appreciation for art that stirs my soul.

This summer Mark Keathley has directed our attention to America’s beaches.  His next release due in our galleries this month is Twilight Moon.  Done as a panoramic, the light house draws us in across gentle tide waters and into the comfortable neighborhood.  The peaceful evening soothes as the stars twinkle in a still colorful sky.

Twilight Moon

Last month Mark presented us with a set: Morning Glories and Evening Glories.  These are two views of the same beach but perhaps years apart.

Morning Glories

Evening Glories

At last I can tell you definitively that Sleeping Beauty will be Kinkade’s next Disney release.  We do not have a date yet but look for this most anticipated princess in the fall.  We have been given the go-ahead to accept deposits so that YOUR Sleeping Beauty will be reserved.

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of 911 Kinkade will release “Selfless Service” this August.  This peace will embody all of the reverence and poignancy of Heading Home but will feature a firefighter heading to his engine.

“Selfless Service”

We should receive our first canvas of this newest release today.  If you are in the area I hope you will stop by and see this important piece.

Anyone that lives in The Great Smoky Mountain area can count on family and friends visiting here.  Each year at this time my uncle and aunt from Kentucky come for a week and stay at Jack Huff’s hotel right behind The Village.  I get to see them more than any other family members because they meander through The Village at least once a day.  This year while visiting me in the gallery they both found art that spoke to them.

Aunt Diana is from England.  She and my uncle met when he was in europe while in the service.  When she saw the Rod Chase canvas Blackmore Vale it only took a minute for her to decide that she had to have it.

This is what we call art choosing you.

My Uncle Littleman, (yes, that’s his name), is really moved by Jack E. Dawson’s work.  I call Mr. Dawson’s style spiritually patriotic.  Littleman chose two Dawson inspirationals: If My People and Reviewing the Troops.

The images hidden in Jack Dawson’s work tell a story.  Everyday I see people examining his paintings with tears in their eyes or telling  me how the piece gave them goose bumps.  It would be hard for any American to see his work and not be moved.

It has been too many years since I have visited my aunt and uncle in their home.  When I do visit them next it will be a good feeling to know that I had some small part in what hangs on their walls and warms their home.

On Saturday, May 7th Infinity Fine Art and Art of the South hosted our very first live webcast event with Mark Keathley.  At that event Mark unveiled his newest release, Spring’s Renewal, Seasons of Life II.

Springs Renewal, Seasons of Life II

The webcast was very successful and will be the first of many.  I will keep you informed about future events.  The original of Springs Renewal can be seen at this gallery, T.K. at the Village in Gatlinburg.  If I can answer and questions about this piece or any other Keathley or Kinkade, please visit the contact heading on this blog.

For me the absolute most exciting days at the gallery are when we host an artist reception.  The gallery is teeming with people and I get to see the wonder on their faces as they are pulled into the artist process.  On May 7th Mark Keathley will be in our gallery and this artist reception will be extra special.  He will spend most of the day sketching and signing canvases that have been purchased in advance or are purchased that day.  Some folks will come and sit with him as he remarks their canvas; how special is that?

Anyone that purchases one of Mark’s limited edition pieces that day will receive an 18×24″ signed and numbered paper print of Mark’s release: Dance of Grace.

The whole days events will be webcast but between 4 and 5 pm that day Mark will be at our home office here in Gatlinburg and unveil his newest release: Seasons of Life II.  In addition during that hour Mark will present 6 small original oils that will be sold to the first caller as each is presented on the web cast.

There will be other activities during the day, drawings, giveaways and such.  If you are in Gatlinburg that day we hope you will join us.  If not be sure to check out the days activities online.  The web cast will be on www.infinityfineart.com;  just select the video option.

Can you imagine a walk with The Lord.  If you could would it be in a peaceful garden with the gentle sound of flowing water and the scent of lush flowers on a faint breeze?  Thomas Kinkade has captured this image for us in his most recent release: Walk of Faith.  For me this spiritually symbolic painting represents the peace I will be given each day as I turn my will over to my Higher Power.  I hope you find it as inspiring as I do.

Art of the South is very proud to announce our first Keathley event of 2011.  Mark will be at our T.K. at the Village gallery on May 7th for the entire day!!!  Any of Mark’s work that is purchased between now and the day of the event can be remarked and signed by this exceptional artist.  If you are able to visit our gallery on the day of the event, you can sit down with Mark as he sketches YOUR canvas.

Mark’s newest piece “Bedtime Stories” will be in our gallery in time for this event, but it will not last long.  I hope you will join us for this special day.

Like Kinkade, my family’s roots are in Ireland.  I have not yet had the pleasure of visiting my home land but I would like to believe it is just as Kinkade portrayed it in “Emerald Valley.”

As hard as life must have been then, the simplicity and the beauty are what I see in this piece.  In the foreground there is a path that winds over the bridge and off into the distance.  I envision that path connecting the whole valley, one clan to the next.

As we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year I hope we remember the rich, colorful heritage that so many Americans descend from.