This painting is dedicated to Grace Giol. <3 Grace is my friend Darlene’s daughter. She is a beautiful little girl (inside and out!) that is autistic. I recently shared a post on the Loving Road facebook page with her picture in a wonder woman costume for a special needs event she is participating in (you can vote/like her through Nov. 16th!). Darlene produces a blog and maintains a facebook page about their journey/life with autism called The Peace to my Puzzle. Darlene asked if I had made anything with a peace theme or owls when browsing the Loving Rd Society6 site recently. This is my response. 🙂 It’s now available on Society6 as a print, pillowcase, phone skin and other items here: http://society6.com/lovingrd/peace-owl-pq3#1=45
The tree has green leaves because Grace lives in South Florida. We used to live there as well and had a similar big tree that we loved in our backyard (a Black Olive tree). In Florida, that shade tree was a huge blessing! The owl has the slightest touch of light pink in its feathers (because Grace loves pink and this owl is named after her). I added a few little fireflies because my kids used to love the book Sam and the Firefly and read it with their Grammie often when they were really young. Grace loves reading, too! The flowers represent black/brown-eyed susans, which were one of my mom’s favorite flowers and also remind me of sunshine. Of course, owls are nocturnal so this image is intended to be at dusk with stars appearing in the evening sky. The message, “may peace be with you”, is a nod to my grandparents’ Catholic roots (in addition to Darlene’s “Peace to my Puzzle”). I went to church with them on holidays (we didn’t live in the same town) and I recall that particular message as standing out. The entire message, “may peace be with you… joy, grace, and wisdom, too” is my prayer for Grace and my way of recognizing her by adding her name. Owls tend to be associated with wisdom so that seemed to be fitting as well. Darlene is a representative with Origami Owl. The little heart on the owl’s face symbolizes love, which is also part of my prayer for Grace. Joy and happiness are always something I wish to all. I have a sign I made with this message hanging in our home and I’m sure I’ll have something more with “Joy to the World” coming soon.
I had fun painting this last night while my boys sat next to me making their own pictures. I shared why I added the fireflies and we enjoyed reminiscing. I’m glad they actually have a few memories with my mom even though they were only 5 when she died. They even thought the owl looked like her a bit… which I don’t really see so their memories may not be too clear, but I’m glad to have these discussions with them and perhaps her loving, peaceful essence is here in some way. 🙂
May peace be with you… joy, grace, and wisdom, too. <3
Thank you for sharing the meaningful story behind this painting! I love the gradient of dark blue to light blue and the yellow accents from the flowers.