This weekend was filled with both hard and happy activities. Saturday was filled with both sadness and joy as we said goodbye to one of my very best friend's partner of 10 years that was tragically lost in a horseback riding accident. We regrouped, changed clothes and then headed to Breckenridge. First to see a solo art show by an amazing artist that is one of our painting group. It was wonderful to see so many red dots on her collection! A red dot next to a painting indicates that it has been sold. To see so many is an indicator that the economy is rising and that people are actually buying art in galleries again! Yahoo! We then scurried up the mountain to attend a much anticipated wedding. The bride has been a part of our family since she was just a little peanut and she and her sisters all worked for me at the Colorado Renaissance Festival through the years. The bride and groom and the entire wedding party were ALL entertainers and/or musicians and the wedding was pure theatre with lots of singing and dancing...it did our hearts good to feel so much happiness after such a sad morning. After catching a few much needed winks I woke up at 6 am, dressed in my oogie painting togs and tackled a scene I've wanted to do for years, but just never got around to, our back deck with early morning light filtering through the pergola and lighting the shrubs and hanging baskets. Spending the morning in the throws of artistic abandon helped me forget about the next pending commitment. To say farewell to another friend of over 30 years. He was an architect, young ( that means close to my age!), well respected and well loved. Several hundred gathered and many stories were shared and many new things learned about a man we all thought we know so well. I was also impressed that so many came from Kansas and Missouri to celebrate his memory. One particular gentleman that we got to know had been his architectural professor at Kansas University in Lawrence. It says amazing things when a teacher student relationship has lasted for over 40 years. I too have been blessed with a teacher that influenced my life over 40 years ago. Amazing isn't it how just one person can change the whole course of your life in ways you may never know at the time. ...and it pays to be honest as you never know when they'll pop up again! Ciao and enjoy life and keep making memories as this whole journey is a gift.
Marianna M. Duford
...an artist with wanderlust.
"Soliloquy"
8x16 studio oil
$625 framed