Sharing some new paintings, and saying thank you.

First, I want to say thank you to everyone here at Muddy Colors – for welcoming me in a few years back and allowing me to share my thoughts here, and for having the confidence in me to continue to do so. I’m in such amazing company here, and I’m honored to be able to be a part of this community. And thank you so much to all who read through these. I truly appreciate your interest and support. The following is for you, and for all.

The Voyager, oil on panel, 20×16″

Thank you to the ones who’ve come before us, who’ve paved the way for us to be able to do what we’re doing now. To the leader types who act from a place of kindness and fairness, with hopes to make a better place for us all. To those who’ve journeyed into unknown territory in order to seek out the new, and then return to share it with us.

Thank you to all those who are new and learning and eager, who show a genuine interest, who are receptive to others’ words and actions, and are present in dialog and interactions. Even in its seeming simplicity, it truly means so much to the ones who have the pleasure of being on the receiving end of that genuine interest and enthusiasm.

The Mage of Candor, oil on panel, 12×9″

Thank you to those who see things differently, who share what they see, and who listen to what others have to share even though it may be different, and often times because it may be different or not the popular belief or choice. 

Thank you to those who show by example that each one of us is an integral part of what creates such an incredibly positive energy. Because without all of the parts that make the whole, well, it’s just incomplete and imbalanced.

Thank you to those who wear their hearts on their sleeves, who are palpable in their endeavors and in their achievements, and who’ve improved our lives by being open and genuine. Thank you to those who provide us with words of wisdom, having been through something of their own.

Thank you to those who share enthusiasm, laugh out loud, and express themselves. To those who are curious, ask questions, get excited about small things, and revel in the beauty of the simple, the complex, and the unknown.

Thank you to all who do such amazing work, who push the limits and think outside the box. Who are perfectionists, soul-searchers, thinkers, makers, dreamers, doers, experimenters, and are constantly evolving. To those who work so hard and seem to continuously grow and hone their craft, and so in turn, are motivating us to achieve better things and higher levels ourselves.

The Dragon Whisperer, oil on panel, 10×8″

Thank you to those who possess a certain kind of tenacity that is both enviable and admirable, and who motivate us by showing us that with hard work and perseverance, we can achieve great things that at one point might have seemed impossible. For showing us to believe in the seemingly impossible and intangible things just as much as, if not more than, the plausible and tangible.

Thank you for all those who hold us accountable. For being tough when we need it, and encouraging all the same. Thank you to those who’ve shown us that strong is beautiful, and that sensitivity is not the lack of strength. Thank you to those who say genuinely nice things out of the kindness of their hearts.

Thank you to those who support and encourage us at all the different stages of our journey. When we falter, they lend a hand to help us up, and when we break through a barrier and take off, they lift us up in celebration. And in all the times in between when we’re doing the work that needs to be done, thank you for creating and upholding our endurance by accompanying us on the ride.

Thank you to those who show respect for others and treat others as equals. Thank you to those who are compassionate. 

Thank you to those who stand up for what they believe in. Thank you to those who are courageous, and to those who remain humble.

Thank you to those who don’t give up, and show by example that making mistakes is an integral part of learning. Thank you to those who recognize when something is difficult for us and are there to help us through it.

Cocoon, oil on panel, 12×9″

Thank you to those who guard our solitude.  Without you, the world in which we find that solitude would not be what it needs to be in order for us to thrive and to create to the best of our ability.

Thank you to those fellow introverts who show up to events, power through brilliantly, and then take the time to process it, regroup and level up again. Thank you for reminding us to restore the balance.

Thank you to those who are patient, and thank you to those who encourage spontaneity.

Thank you to those who use common sense and critical thinking, who know when to rely on their instincts, who are comfortable admitting they don’t always know the answer, and that sometimes there just isn’t one.

Thank you to those who suggest a new possibility that we may have overlooked or are not aware of, with the hopes that it might lead us to even greater things.

Where We Connect, oil on panel, 5×7″

Thank you to those who appreciate the connections we make, no matter the distance between us – to those who understand that making a connection or an impression isn’t necessarily about relative space or time.

Thank you to the visionaries, appreciators, independent creators, small businesses, big hearts, establishments who support unorthodox ideas, and to those who continue to cultivate a place for us to thrive. Thank you to those who pay attention to the details, who don’t sweat the small stuff, and who step back to look at the big picture.

Thank you to those who truly understand that doing what we love does not simply equate to a gift that has just been handed to us, but requires a lot of hard work and dedication – and that everyone has the capacity to do what they love, no matter what it might be.

Thank you to those who’ve provided opportunities for us, knowing that it does not stop there, but in fact, it just keeps going on from there.

I could go on…

Thank you.