Back yard flower.

This is a BEAUTIFUL yellow flower that is in my back yard. It was fun and relaxing to paint.

I guess I'm going to be interviewed for art prize by some radio station next Thursday. I just can't wait. It may be fun or nerve racking with this speech problem.

We are going into the fourth of July week end and the grand kids are already over to spend the night. I get such a kick out of them. I think they keep me young as well as old.

Iris in the ditch

This is a painting of the Iris that sits in my ditch in front of the house. They are beautiful this time of the year. The next to come up will be tiger lilies. This is of course a watercolor pencil painting on canvas. I tried another canvas but still like the Fredrick's water color canvas the best. I need volunteers to help me with Art Prize. I do not think I can do this on my own. I am hoping to find some people to volunteer to just sit with me as I find this tiring and nerve racking. More on this later.

Meadow Flowers

This picture took me forever to paint. It looks so realistic that I put Water Color painting on it to slow people down to actually see the work I put into it. It is a 12X 16" painting matted in a 20 by 16 inch mat. I have enjoyed painting more flowers lately. I am thinking about doing some paintings for the children of the casualties so they can know their fathers when they grow up. There are two of them. We will see.

Spc Joseph Dennis Johnson

From: Flint, Michigan
Age: 24
Unit: 161st Engineer Support Company, 27th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade
Died: June 16, 2010

Spc Joseph Dennis Johnson

Fatal incident occurred in Kunduz, Afghanistan
One of two soldiers killed when insurgents attacked their unit with a roadside bomb at North Kunduz, Afghanistan, on June 16, 2010.

I am finding that I am drained and feeling pressure over these pictures. It is sinking in my soul. I think about theses men and their families and feel the loss of them in the universe. The young men who had children are especially on my mind.

There is now a whole in the universe and in the hearts of those that loved them.

Cpl. Jeffrey R. Standfest

From: St. Clair, Michigan Age: 23 Unit: Company A, 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force Died: June 16, 2010 Cpl. Jeffrey R. Standfest

Fatal incident occurred in Helmand province , Afghanistan Died of wounds sustained when a roadside bomb detonated during combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on June 16, 2010 well I finally got permission for all the young men to paint their pictures. I am finding that I now watch the military channel and follow the war more closely. I am being sensitize through knowledge. I came out in the top ten in the Art Clash contest. Not bad for an outsider.