The Lady in the Park

Path to The Lady, 6½ x 9" watercolor

Here’s the second watercolor I squeezed in last week while painting across the street in Herman Park.

Paris has its Eiffel Tower, Washington D.C. has the Washington Monument and Goldsboro, North Carolina has The Lady in the Park. The sculpture, originally made of zinc in 1916 by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorwaldson was named Hebe, Goddess of Youth. Heavily damaged over the years, the original “Lady” was replaced in 2004 by a bronze replica. Locals refer to her simply as “The Lady.” She remains Goldsboro’s most highly revered icon. Dear friend Donna Jansen who visited me from Minnesota became enthralled with the statue. She thought it to be “so southern”, and compared its charm to Savannah’s Bird Girl statue that graces the cover of the book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

I do not reproduce many of my paintings. The exception may be when I do one that is in high demand and that features subject matter for which I don’t want to make a painting career. Below is giclée reproduction from a tighter, more realistic watercolor of the Lady. For more information on the reproduction just click “The Lady”.

The Lady in Springtime, 18x14" watercolor

Breathing a joyous sign of Christmas relief

The Park House in winter, 6 ½ x 9" watercolor

99.5 percent of what I need to do for Christmas is behind me.

And finally, I have a new painting to post. I’ve been buried with Christmas painting commissions and with creating my holiday card image, and so haven’t had much time to get out and paint. And today, I’m torn, do I paint the rapidly opening Amaryllis that stands tall in my window, or do I sneak in a plein air painting while North Carolina’s still in the 60’s? Seems the sense of urgency is not behind me.

The Park House in Winter is the first of two watercolors I did yesterday. The painting features the landmark Victorian house that graces the city park that is just across the street from where I live. I omitted the Christmas décor. Our warm temperatures have taken a toll on the garland and wreaths with which the park house is now decorated.

Just a suggestion, consider purchasing some small gift cards today at a place from which you’d enjoy receiving a gift card; then hand them out at random to the people who serve you well, give you a warm smile or who have helped you throughout the year. I gave one yesterday to the man who manages our local UPS office. He responded, “You didn’t need to to that.”

I replied, “That was the idea.”

EnJoy!