Spring is here! I love spring because it’s not summer. No really, it’s my second favorite season. It has the feel of new beginnings. Here nature sleeps during the winter waiting for spring. Then, it stretches and wakes up. Suddenly, it’s go (or grow) time, encouraging us to do the same.

My wakeup came in the form of family and art and not just the budding flowers. My husband’s father had passed away in February, but the family service was in April. I love his family. I was blessed with amazing relatives growing up and in my first husband’s family. I had it in spades here, too.

My husband has one sister and she’s quite amazing. One of those quiet types that is beyond smart and beautiful inside and out. When I love someone, I want to give them art. Her birthday was shortly after we first moved back to Tennessee, and I had given her a notecard with a print of my forsythias (my favorite watercolor). And I’ve wanted to give her something more – art wise – ever since.

She loved my hydrangea painting, but I stuck the canvas to a wood piece and she wanted a piece to frame. So, I just waited like spring knowing the right timing would come, the right idea would bud.

Over a year later, it did. We were getting ready to travel to her house for an Easter lunch. I was taught you never show up empty handed, and she always had everything taken care of. What gift could I bring?

In short, I had visions of the watercolor paintings I had given teachers … snowmen symbolizing their personalities. Karen’s focus is family. Bunnies – she like bunnies. So, I did a cute illustration of her family as bunnies. I love doing this type of illustration and, honestly, need to do more.

Note to self: create art like this, give art like this, offer art like this. The world needs more art like this. In fact, it’s why I create. One of my missions is to make art affordable, personable, inclusive, and memorable. It makes people smile and warms my heart like no other art.