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paintings sandi paintings howell paintings sandra paintings laundry paintings wash paintings day paintings tropical paintings home paintings simple home paintings clothesline paintings turquoise paintings greens paintings rustic home paintings

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Who would guess that you could get a photo from a rapidly moving tour bus and it would interest you enough to do a painting of it? Well, that is exactly what happened with this image. My husband and I were heading back from a cultural tour in the countryside to the city of Suva, Fiji, when we passed some of the local homes, nestled against the jungles. These island homes were very simple in nature, and each had their laundry hanging out on a line or two. As I studied the image for the painting, I noticed that the local people had used tires for planters in their yards as well as other interesting details. The colorful laundry and bright turquoise houses gave a sense that there is joy and contentment in living a simple life, validated by the smiles and friendliness of the Fijian people we met on our trip. For me, painting this image serves as a reminder that oftentimes people who find happiness do not have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything.

After 32 years of teaching elementary school, I decided to retire. Just prior to my retirement, I took a few watercolor classes at Shasta College to see if all the "desire" to paint that had been waiting patiently for its turn in my busy life could materialize into something that would represent my best efforts to replicate the beauty I see in the world. I wanted to share it in such a way that people would want to "take the closer look" and further appreciate the world and creation around us. In the first two years, I produced 20 paintings and framed them all with the encouragement of my husband (who doubles as my easily available art critic). As I painted more and more, I became more adept at putting together the elements that create...