A Silent Night on Christmas Eve on Matlacha Island

Sara joins Leoma and paints a Christmas Tree

On a whim on Christmas Eve (2015) to honor the birth of Jesus Christ I painted live in the front room of my retail gallery. 

I mentioned it on facebook and Sara and her mother stopped in to watch. 

After I had finished a few paintings I turned around and handed a paint brush to young college student Sara and said, "come paint with me". With little hesitation, she did. 

Sara begins her painting

Sara begins to paint.

Leoma and Sara painting live during the
Matlacha Island, Florida Luminaries event.

It was one of my joyous Christmas moments. We have since become friends and Instagram buddies

Sara and Leoma, new painting buddies

 Sara and Leoma, new painting buddies. Gave her an apron because she had no idea she was to be painting that night. We didn't want to get paint on her clothes.

Leoma's "Madonna and Child"

My painting of Madonna and Child. I was nervous to paint a baby because

I had never painted a close up of a new born before. I tried several times

on this painting and finally liked what I came up with. A pleasant infant Jesus.

Sara's "Christmas Tree"

Sara's Christmas Tree

Looking forward to next year's Christmas Eve with Sara.
I love tradition, especially during Christmas. 

I'm looking forward to painting live again at my gallery on Matlacha Island, and I sure hope Sara joins me again. Stop in if you are in the area to celebrate the birth of my Savior, Jesus Christ.

Love Always,
Leoma Lovegrove

 Check out my instagram, Leoma_Lovegrove and see several of the photos from the evenings fun time.

Daily Rain Lilies

Daily Rain Lilies

Rain lilies are in full bloom in my waterside gardens on Matlacha Island. I have been growing the bulbs from a mere start of ten teeny bulbs that I bought at a local dept. store. The package said it would take five years to bloom. Well, that was eighteen years ago. Now, there are over five hundred lovely delicate pink flowers blooming all at once right before it rains. Patience pays off and it only took me one hour to paint this small painting. Claude Monet planted flowers so he would have something to paint on a rainy day. I paint in the rain under an umbrella. 

"Rain Lilies of My Valley

These two paintings in this blog are small warm ups before I start my big day of commissions for Bealls Florida Dept. Stores. One per day. I find that warming up before I paint large helps me to stay true to my art. 

"My Rain Gauge"

Last Train to Paris

Last Train to Paris
click here to buy

Mike and I were invited to our very first French barbecue along the Seine River near Giverny. Stephanie and Gerard have been our friends for nearly 15 years and we have enjoyed watching them through many stages of their married life. They have two girls and and it is really fun watching them grow and becoming friends with then too. Youngest, Marion paints with me each year when we return for our annual retreat away from the states. 

The barbecue did not even start until 9pm and Mike and I enjoyed the wine, the river, the french conversation which we did not understand, but knew the entire family and their friends were enjoying themselves and being together was the big it. We were happy to be a part of it. 

I heard a train and looked up and saw the last train of the night headed to Paris. I thought what an adventure to go to Paris, and then I realized we were experiencing even a better adventure with this precious french family. 



LovegroveGalleryandGardens@gmail.com

Royal Wedding Horse

Royal Wedding Horse

This Royal Wedding Horse is part of the Royal Wedding Collection I created last April 21st. I was all caught up in royal wedding of Will and Kate. I think anyone my age feels like it was their son getting married because of our love for his mother, the late Princess Diana, our Queen of Hearts. I found the huge plastic horse at the Goodwill on Sanibel and carried it under my arm for 20 minutes. The horses tail had been cut off by some adoring child so I was hesitant to purchase it, but I did. After getting it back to my studio I started painting the Union Jack so it could be included in my Royal Wedding Collection 2011. Took forever to paint and I still add more paint to it whenever I have out the red, white and blue. And, these days I have the "wet" RED WHITE AND BLUE tubes of paint ready to use.  I will add more photos to this blog as the horse changes hues. The horse is made of heavy heavy plastic. Must have cost a pretty penny new. Could not find the maker anywhere on the horse, but since I painted it, I will be the maker. Royal Horse comes complete with my signature.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/75420003/royal-wedding-horse

Facebook photos of Royal Wedding Celebration at Franklin Shops