Oil Painting – Precious Art By Precious People

Summer Afternoon

September 3, 2015September 2, 2015Maria Libera Vallone9 Comments

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“Summer Afternoon” is an original oil painting by Carol Marquardt, resident of the Evergreen State, Washington. Carol is a Quadriplegic from a gun shot accident at age 13. Carol paints with a brush held in her mouth and enjoys spending time with her family, painting and reading. This greeting card was reproduced from an original artwork by Carol Marquardt for THASC Sales Co. which has employed a unique group of handicapped artists who create art to help rehabilitate themselves. They gain self-respect and pride through their artwork.

20150901_161645 Although most of us “four-season people” try hard to avoid the inevitable of summer coming to an end, there are some signs that finally bring us to the realization that summer is really fading and fall is near. THASC artist Carol Marquardt hints at some of those things that we dread to admit are starting to happen, but at the same time, tells us there is still more time to enjoy it. The trees are starting to shed their leaves and some branches look more like twigs now, as Carol shows in her painting. I must say my yellow dried-up lawn, which has suffered from an especially hot summer, has begun to look more like a hay field as well.

Her sole basket of flowers reminds me of how I wait until late summer to see my delicate roses of Sharon. They are the last flowers to bloom but are still accompanied by a very green pine tree in the back yard and some greener holly bushes in the front yard. The summer beach days are not ready to give in to Fall just yet. In fact my favorite time to visit and walk the beach is in late afternoon, when most of the crowds have dwindled and only the serious beachgoers are still lingering in the sunset on their lounges or throwing the last crumbs of their lunches to the patient seagulls.

Sand Hill Cove Beach at sunset

Carol’s gray watering can has not lost it’s purpose yet and looks lovely sitting on the patio (with the matching gray grout) where it is ready to revive the nearby flowers, even though at this point, hope is lost for the dried grass. Carol’s painting of “Summer Afternoon” reminds me that there is still time to warm my skin in the sun, still time to water and enjoy the last summer roses of Sharon, and still time to walk the coastal beaches at sunset.

Although I dislike admitting it, I actually DO get a bit anxious for the arrival of Fall’s Fashion Show, but until that time, Carol’s painting keeps me in my favorite season, summer, with her wonderful THASC greeting card. I hope you all have a delightful end to summer and enjoy these last days. Wishing you a pleasant Labor Day weekend. See you next Tuesday.

-Maria

THASC is a unique small American business producing cards and other promotional products.
www.thasc.com

Colors of Spring

June 18, 2015June 17, 2015Maria Libera Vallone4 Comments

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“Colors of Spring” is an original oil painting by Robert Woltanski, resident of the Keystone State, Pennsylvania. Robert is a Quadriplegic and paints with a brush held in his mouth.This greeting card was reproduced from an original artwork by Robert Woltanski for THASC Sales Co. which has employed a unique group of handicapped artists who create art to help rehabilitate themselves. They gain self-respect and pride through their artwork.

As I was driving through my neighborhood this morning I noticed that almost everyone in my community had manicured lawns and bushes with pretty flowers in a row. All except one. This house was a replica of Robert Woltanski’s garden in his greeting card painting above. Instead of a lawn there were tons of wild flowers all growing together and I wished that I had done the same thing with my front lawn: colors upon colors, all different lengths and sizes and so simply beautiful and so unique.

When I was in Florence 2 weeks ago I visited the Palazzo Pitti,
the Palace of the Medici family who were the rulers of Florence during the Renaissance. The Palace was bought by Cosimo I’s wife Eleonora di Toledo and after being greatly enlarged, became the Medici family’s new residence. Despite its imperial dominance and décor, the Palace is not as admired as its grounds, the Giardini di Boboli, or the Boboli Gardens The development of the Gardens span 400 years from the 15th to the 19th centuries. One of the highlights is the “Viottolone” pictured to the right.

As you can see, the Viottolone , or large avenue, leads all the way to the large pond called the “Isolotto”. Perseus on horseback is emerging from the pond. Another beautiful fountain is “Neptune’s Fountain, pictured below and called “The Fork” by Florentines because of his trident.

The Boboli Gardens offer the perfect place to escape the hot summer days in Florence. The side avenues off the Viottolone offer the perfect spots to relax and enjoy the tranquility of the Gardens.

Most of our own gardens offer the same place of relaxation on a much smaller scale than the famous Boboli, and Robert Woltanski brings each of us through his THASC greeting card to the special place outside our back (or in some cases, front) door.

Have a lovely Spring weekend in your garden or backyard.
See you on Tuesday with another recipe from THASC’s kitchen.

Ciao a presto. See you soon!

-Maria

THASC is a unique small American business producing cards and other promotional products.
www.thasc.com

Two Cardinals

June 4, 2015April 21, 2015Maria Libera ValloneLeave a comment

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20150420_150847-1 — “Two Cardinals” is an original oil painting by Teddy Wayne Smith, resident of the Bluegrass State, Kentucky. Teddy was diagnosed with Anterior Horn Cell Disease and has been bound to a wheelchair since birth. He has lost the use of his left arm, but continues to paint and draw with his right arm. Teddy is also an accomplished author of the book titled “Teddy – Finding LIFE in a World of Destruction”. This greeting card was reproduced from an original artwork by Teddy Wayne Smith for THASC Sales Co. which has employed a unique group of handicapped artists who create art to help rehabilitate themselves. They gain self-respect and pride through their artwork.

I don’t know any other bird that gets me to jump off my chair to run and see it than the North American male cardinal. In fact it is one of the most well known and favorite birds in North America so much so that seven states honor it as their state bird: Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Illinois. The NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and the MLB’s St. Louis Cardinals, as well as many other universities have made the Cardinal their mascot. A cardinal is distinguished by it’s bright red crest and bill and it’s black “Lone Ranger” mask and a shade of red that can only capture your attention and hold it. Since cardinals don’t migrate they are as conspicuous in winter against a snowy background, and in summer for their musical whistles. Both the male and female sing. Not many North American female birds sing, but the female cardinal does, often while sitting on her nest, probably an indication of when to bring food. Being the romantic that I am, it makes me happy to know that males and females stay together for life, perhaps why Teddy Wayne Smith depicted them above in a pair. They have a life span of up to fifteen years.

I found this beautiful Haiku by Christine Kelly written coincidentally on my Dad’s birthday Feb. 2, 2013 that says it all I think about devotion and love:

Cardinals
Pair of Cardinals
perched together in the snow,
one warm, beating heart.

20150420_125714-1 — Cardinal musical bird

My mother was a great lover of cardinals and all my life I still have her favorite knick-knack of a musical cardinal that she left. It plays “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning”, probably because in summer their whistles are one of the first sounds in the morning.

Many people think that cardinals are a sign of their lost loved ones and that they are a symbol of that person visiting them when they appear. According to this myth, they usually show up when you most need or miss your loved one. They also make appearances during times of celebration to let you know they will always be with you.

My friend Rosaleen who was very close to my parents has gifted me with some lovely reminders of my mother in the form of cardinals. One is this lovely snowy globe and recently she gave me some delicate cardinal hand-painted cups. Since I bought my childhood home back a few years ago, she is certain they will always be poignant reminders of them.

Cardinal snow globes

Cardinals are easily attracted to backyard feeders with sunflower seeds. They measure about 8” in length and have a wingspan of about 10 -12 inches. Although the male brings the nest material to the female, it is the female who does most of the building! They have a global breeding population of 120 million with 77% in the U.S. For those who choose to hold the Cardinal dear: you are a special person: energetic, vital, rare and always willing to care for those in need.

20150420_143547 — Hand painted cardinal cups

Thank you, Rosaleen.

See you next Tuesday. Have a warm almost summer weekend. Hope you see a cardinal.
-Maria

THASC is a unique small American business producing cards and other promotional products.
www.thasc.com

Precious Freedom

May 28, 2015April 18, 2015Maria Libera ValloneLeave a comment

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“Precious Freedom” is an original oil painting by Novella Duke, resident of the Volunteer State, Tennessee and the Sunshine State, Florida. Novella was diagnosed with Scoliosis at age 8 and is aided by the use of a wheelchair. This greeting card was reproduced from an original artwork by Novella Duke for THASC Sales Co. which has employed a unique group of handicapped artists who create art to rehabilitate themselves. They gain self-respect and pride through their artwork.

Living on a Street named “Poppy” most of my life always brought special meaning to Memorial Day for me. I grew up when people often wore silk poppy flowers to remember the fallen. After World War I, a poem was written by a Canadian physician named John McCrae called “In Flanders Fields” which may have been the beginning of wearing poppies. The poem talks about the poppies that grew among the soldiers’ graves in Flanders. Two years later in 1920 the poppy became the official symbol of remembrance adopted by the National American Legion. Here is part of that poem:

“In Flanders Fields”
John McCrae

Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Many veterans or those still associated with the Armed Forces sell silk poppies on the corners of most cities and towns during the weekend while others place flowers or American flags at the stones of the fallen or attend parades with marching bands following servicemen and veterans from various wars.

The original date chosen for the holiday was May 30 as the perfect date for flowers to be in bloom, but was changed to the last Monday in May when Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1968. Whatever day it is celebrated, I thank all of those every day, past and present, who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we may be free. Novella Duke is right. Freedom is Precious. We should remember that every day. Thank you to the Precious Art by Precious People. Novella is one of them.

See you in June. Next Tuesday, that is.
Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Birthday, Scot!

-Maria

The French word “Merci” or “Thanks” written on the American flag in front of a white cross in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial.

Among My Souvenirs

May 14, 2015April 17, 2015Maria Libera ValloneLeave a comment

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20150405_150434-1-1 — “Rocking Horse” is an oil painting by Grace Hedlund, resident of the Empire State, New York. In June, 2003, Grace suffered a head injury that caused her impairment in the left side of her body, loss of balance and loss of memory. Grace is still able to paint but finds other activities difficult and exhausting. This greeting card was reproduced from an original artwork by Grace Hedlund for THAC Sales Co. which has employed a unique group of handicapped artists who create art to help rehabilitate themselves. They gain self-respect and pride through their work.

I am one of those people that I guess you would call a collector. Some prefer to call me a pack rat since I hold on to things I love for a long time. Sound familiar? Most of them were given to me by someone or left behind by someone and others I bought and can’t seem to part with. When I first saw the “Rocking Horse” painting by Grace Hedlund, it reminded me of those special toys from childhood and then I loved to collect dolls like most little girls. My favorite doll might surprise you. My favorite one was a Howdy Doody doll which I got when I was about 7 years old. Back then he was all spiffed up and had a straw cowboy hat and some leather cowboy boots and a nifty checked scarf which matched his shirt tied around his neck. Over the years he’s a little worn out: he’s lost his cowboy boots, hat and scarf and he’s broken his nose. Most of the children who come over now are afraid of him and make me hide him, but I’ll never get rid of him. He’s too precious a memory and still has his spot on my bedroom pillow after all these years.

20150405_143128 I’m also in love with anything made of ceramic or glass. An old friend, Mr. Charles Anderson, had a clock collection for years when I rented an apartment from him. There was one special clock, the most beautiful I’d ever seen, I may add, totally of ceramic and hand-painted a lovely violet with little flowers. It still chimes on the hour and sometimes on the half as well. When he passed, I bought it from his estate back in the 70’s and although I’ve transported it to many places, it still remains chip free. It’s a beauty and I’ve had it for so long now, how can I ever part with it?

20150405_142536-1 My mom left behind a number of teapots but none is as pretty and beautifully decorated as the deep blue one with detailed gold trim. I have to admit that I’d rather admire it than use it for fear of breaking it, so it sits on a shelf in my cluttered basement collecting dust. I must find a way to fit it into the kitchen one of these days!!!

20150405_142929 When I was living in Beijing in the late 90’s, I invited my sister to come over and spend close to a month with me. My brother knew how much living and teaching in China meant to me and for Christmas the following year gifted me with a very touching hand-painted ceramic piece of two Chinese women sitting on a bench sharing stories, much like my sister and I had done. China was a very special trip for us and she was quite the star with her bright red hair! I have a room where I dedicate a bookcase and other built-in ones for my Chinese souvenirs, like the medals we both received for climbing the Great Wall and the statues of the Terracotta Warriors from Xian. On the top shelf, however, sits the ceramic Chinese ladies.

20150405_142902 At this point in my life, my house looks more like a museum of sorts and my basement could very well look like a flea market as I have so many things stacked on moveable shelves for lack of having space to display them upstairs. Most of them would be useless to most people and I really am not a hoarder, but my sister used to call it “separation anxiety!” I’ve mentioned my glass collection in another blog which I wrote on Venice but I didn’t talk much about the multi-colored tiny glass perfume bottles with glass tops that I collect. They are all different shapes, sizes and colors and most of them are small. There is one large one in the middle of all of them which I favor and has a beautiful red glass top. I think you’ll agree with me that it is the leader of the pack.

20150405_142430-1 If you read my recent blog about Sorrento, I mentioned that inlaid wooden boxes are a dying craft, however, besides the small ones I’ve dispayed in that blog I also have a bigger, beautiful jewelry box which I had bought for my mother a long time ago when I was in Sorrento. That, too, sadly for the moment sits downstairs on a shelf, but I do have big plans for it someday!

20150405_141854-1 Grace Hedlund’s painting brings me full circle to my own rocking horse and a very special family treasure. It’s made of brass and is very heavy and is used every day to hold my swinging door open. So you see many of my souvenirs still play active rolls in my life.

How many of you have special collectibles that you’d like to tell me about?I’m anxious to see some of your photos of them!

See you next Tuesday!
Thank you THASC and thank you Grace for some special memories.
-Maria

THASC is a unique small American business producing cards and other promotional products.
www.thasc.com

Celebrating a Thasc Artist: Terry Haffner

April 28, 2015April 28, 2015Maria Libera Vallone4 Comments

NOTE174sm — “Three Boats” is an original oil painting by Terry Haffner, resident of the Hoosier State, Indiana. Terry was born without arms and short legs. Terry paints with a brush held by an artificial arm and hook. Terry’s landscapes and seascapes are colorful in an impressionistic style. This greeting card was reproduced from an original oil painting by Terry Haffner for THASC Sales Co. which has employed a unique group of handicapped artists who create art to help rehabilitate themselves. They gain self-respect and pride through their artwork.

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I had the honor today to communicate with an extraordinary individual. Terry Haffner is an artist, a motivational speaker and an author. He was also born with no arms and short legs. Terry told me that he works in acrylics and loves color. The “Three Boats” was a scene from Maine. He says mostly he paints traditional landscapes and seascapes and that people, when they travel, share pictures with him.

He said that soon he would stretch himself a bit and do colorful abstract art. He paints on stretched canvas: 20” x 16” and 24” x 20” mostly. He likes doing smaller paintings mostly 8’ x 10’ and 9 x 12” using his mouth with a brush.

Terry says he has been a more professional artist since realizing people love what he does and are willing to spend money for an original HAFFNER painting. He mostly holds brushes with his right hook.

He tells a funny story about when he was about 2 years old. He was living with his grandparents and slept in an opened drawer to a dresser and one day, his mother got the bright idea to sell the dresser at a yard sale and he woke up in someone else’s house two days later!

At 13 years old, when Terry was very depressed about his parents’ health, his nephew suggested he write a book about how his parents motivated him every step of the way growing up: how they had placed a pencil between his toes when he was only three, how they loved him, cared for him and wanted him to go to school. He says this saying was always important to him: “When every challenge gets tough, every victory is sweeter. “

In his twenties Terry started traveling to Oklahoma City and then got the “bug” to share his story and to be in front of a microphone. He says he will do everything he can to lift up people.

Several years ago, after visiting San Juan and seeing a man banging a cup on the street and walking on the palms of his hands, Terry realized that banging a similar cup, especially when he talked to younger people, meant for him first, to get their attention and then, to remind them that that was not who he was.

He started to think about accepting himself the way he was. Even though he had felt that many people don’t accept you if you looked different, he finally thought it was time to give away his artificial limbs to people in poor countries. He wanted to feel whole and left the legs with no regrets.

He decided to have his new van built to accommodate him the way he was, using his hook for the steering wheel and having it built on a vacuum assist. He indeed felt whole and accepting of himself then.

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The turning point for Terry to feel recognized was when an art teacher from New Jersey saw a story in the National Enquirer about Terry called “Tales of True Courage” and sent him a box of acrylic paints and said try it. He liked it and began to use acrylic paint exclusively.

His autobiography is titled “Born With Less, Blessed With More.” It is still in manuscript form as his sister who worked on it for 13 years, passed away from Parkinson’s disease on October 3. He needs to add more to the manuscript and find a publisher. He describes his book as powerful, inspirational and funny.

Terry told me he lives in his own home, a ranch villa in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is not fond of winter weather so he’s thinking about relocating to Charleston, NC, with greater opportunities to get galleries to look at his work.

Terry says, “All my life people have looked at me, and all they have to do is look a little farther and see I’m still the same person.”

You can see more of Terry’s work on his website:
www.terryhaffner.com

And you can also see Terry on YouTube below:

Thank you to Dana Clark, Terry’s photographer, for supplying many of the photos in this blog.

This has been an incredible assignment for me, talking to Terry Haffner. Thank you THASC Sales Co. for introducing me to one of the most extraordinary people I’ve ever met, and, of course, thank you, Terry, for your inspiration and beautiful artwork.

See you Thursday!!!!
-Maria

THASC is a unique small American business producing cards and other promotional products.
www.thasc.com

RAMS

April 21, 2015April 17, 2015Maria Libera Vallone2 Comments

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For those of you who follow the Chinese horoscope you may know that this is the year of the RAM, which won’t happen again until 2027. I did a little research on you Arians and found that a ram is among the animals that people like most. People born in the year of the Ram are tender, polite, clever and kind-hearted. They have special sensitivity to art and beauty and special fondness for quiet living. They are wise, gentle and compassionate and can cope with business cautiously. In their daily life, they try to be economical. They are willing to take good care of others, but they should avoid pessimism and hesitation.

20150329_153249-1 — Chinese paper cut of ram

Strengths: gentle, soft-hearted, considerate, attractive, hardworking, persistent, thrifty

Weaknesses: indecisive, timid, vain, pessimistic, moody, weak-willed

Celebrities born in the year of the Ram include: Michelangelo (WOW), Mark Twain, Rudolph Valentino
Barbara Walters, Benicio del Toro and Bruce Willis. (Note #1 below)

When I attended the University of Rhode Island (URI), we were known as the Rhody Rams, a name we’ve had since 1923. I always wondered why we were called Rams and recently found out. The Ram is a tribute to the University’s former name: “Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.” There is a marble statue of a ram as you enter the Memorial Union. Our mascot was and still is Rhody Ram and as a cheerleader for 4 years I wore that symbol proudly on my uniform.

When my Aunt Cammie passed away she willed a painting very loved by her called “The Pagan Altar” to my sister Sara. The then head of the Art Department, Prof. A.V. Rosati, painted it. My sister had always been in love with the painting because her husband Gary was that sign of the Ram. It is, I think, a spectacular painting which sparkles in blue, green and gold when the sun shines in upon it and I look at it every day and think of her.

So now in closing I have a little quiz for you. When I was living in China and teaching there at the Jingshan School, I bought an embroidered wall hanging of all of the animals of the horoscope strung together which hangs in my kitchen. I want to know who of you can identify the RAM. Look closely and leave me a comment here on the blog. I’ll write you and let you know if you WIN!

20150401_153419-1 — Chinese horoscope animals

Have a wonderful Year of the Ram, all of you Arians!

And thank you to THASC artist Billy R. Harper for his wonderful painting which reminds me of so many lovely times and places in my life.

I’ll see you on Thursday.
-Maria

Note#1. http://www.travelchinaguide.com/zodiac

THASC is a unique small American business producing cards and other promotional products.
www.thasc.com