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No more than an hour had passed since I heard from Amanda again. I had just ordered her canvas print of Whiskers & Patrick when she got bad news about her grandmother’s cat, Peaches. Unexpectedly, they had to rush her to the vet and she was being put down as Amanda was writing to me. She asked if I could do another painting for Christmas, this time for her grandmother.
Amanda wrote,
“My grandma was saying just the other day how she loved your work so much and wanted to get a painting done for her cat, Tigger, who passed away earlier this year and Peaches, who passed away sooner than any of us ever expected. They were from the same litter, they were adopted the same day, and lived together until the end.”
Amanda sent me this picture, which was her grandma’s favorite. She especially loved the way their paws were touching.
Amanda mentioned that her grandmother liked rainbows, butterflies, and red cardinals, and I began working on the painting. And, since I love butterflies, I added a butterfly.
A few days later, Amanda contacted me and said that she was on her way home from work and remembered that Peaches & Tigger LOVED to lay in the screened area by the pool watching the lizards and birds. Just a random memory she wanted to share with me, she said, but nothing is random in my world of design, so I added a pool in the background.
I sent her this draft and she asked if she could send me an actual picture of her grandmother's pool to use, and said her mom wanted me to add a red cardinal. She circled where she thought it would work, but said she trusted my judgment.
Hearing that was a great help. I used her grandma's pool in the portrait, moved the butterfly to the tree, and added the red cardinal. I told Amanda,
“Thanks so much to you and your mom for making the suggestions for revisions. I struggled with the painting in the beginning because the quality of the picture wasn't ideal and I reached out to both Peaches and Tigger to help me with this. The first draft was "okay" but not until you and your mom gave your input, and I made the last paint stroke, did I feel the tremendous love that Peaches and Tigger felt for your grandma and it gave me goosebumps. It was overwhelming. Cardinals must be very special to her because I was compelled to bring this one right up front for the boys to watch. I love this so much and I hope that all of you do, too."
Amanda replied,
“I think this is so great, I love that you used the actual photo of the pool - I called my mom and we reviewed the photo, she loves it! We both LOVE that they look like they are looking at the Cardinal. My grandma believes that the red cardinals that visit her are my grandpa, so this means so much."
I said,
“I love these stories and how they fall into place. I kept asking Peaches and Tigger to help me with the design because I felt lost, and then I felt compelled to put the cardinal right up front with them instead of in the background in the tree. I think the THREE of them must be reaching out to your grandma so she knows they are doing well and they are all together now. Tigger and Peaches look so at peace with the cardinal! It is amazing the way loved ones can reach out like that through art.
Amanda wrote,
“You are amazing!!! She is going to love it! After the sadness my family has faced the last 2 years, Christmas has not been the same. This year will be different. I can feel it! I am so excited!”
When I told Amanda that the estimated delivery was November 26th, she replied,
“Omg, that’s the day my grandpa passed 2 years ago.”
So many signs, I thought, and now Amanda's grandpa returns to the family in the painting.
I was so happy to hear from Amanda, her mom, and her grandma after Christmas. Here are their comments, and each one filled me with extreme joy.
From Amanda:
“Hey Virginia!! Oh my god! They LOVED THEM. They both cried and just couldn’t believe how beautiful they were!!! You helped bring love and joy to our Christmas season, and I couldn’t be more grateful!!”
From Amanda’s mom, Michelle:
“This was amazing. To watch my mother open this and the tears roll down her face it was just perfect. You captured everything in one picture.”
From Amanda’s grandmother, Bridget:
“So precious. Absolutely beautiful picture of my babies. Virginia did a wonderful job. Absolutely beautiful I still have tears in my eyes every time I look at the picture. The picture looks so real, and my babies are so beautiful and happy. I want to thank Virginia for a wonderful, fantastic job she did. Thank you so much for making my Christmas so much better.”
I had to tell Amanda’s mom,
“Thank you! I loved working with your daughter on these. She is precious and it was so wonderful to see how she wanted each painting to be just perfect. She loves you both very much! ”
Another beautiful story that makes me love what I do and the people I meet - each with a connection to a loved one that I am blessed to feel very strongly from time to time. This time it was with Peaches, Tigger, and Amanda's grandpa. Much love to this amazing family. ❤️
Designing in Spirit,
Virginia
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