Give Me Love
Hello and why “give me love” as the name for today’s painting and post? Well, I can’t wait to share with you. Before I share more, here’s a warm (and bright colored) welcome to this place. What happens here? I am glad you asked. Each week I share a colorful painting with you. My hope is these color clad paintings delight your eyes and lift your spirits! If you’re new here and would like to receive these weekly posts, subscribe here. Let’s look more closely at this week’s painting, OK?
Origin Story Painting
This week’s painting brings me all kinds of warm and loving memories of my mother and father. Here it is!
Cue up George Harrison singing “Give Me Love” and have a listen as I share the details (well a few anyway). This painting is 8×8 inches, painted on panel and will be framed and on view at a show in April here in Raleigh. Mostly, I feel incredibly grateful to have grown up in a home that included parents who truly loved each other, me and my brother and sisters.
And, don’t get me wrong, there was unrest, war, tragic assassinations, dishonest and corrupt politicians galore in my childhood. But, our home offered a loving place for me and my siblings to grow up. As long as there’s love, a house becomes a home. And, home is a wonderful setting for oldsters and youngsters alike to thrive.
Sending Love
So I’m sending love out to you. And, here’s what else is giving me strength these days.
- I continue to give out pocket sized copies of the US Constitution to total strangers on my morning dog walk. The response has been overwhelmingly positive!
- I’m calling elected officials and voicing my concerns via 5calls.org
- I am sketching with people from all over the world once a month via zoom; and it is SO beautiful to do this*
- I listen to Under the Desk News and love their approach and they report what’s happening right now. There’s even humor!!!
Here are a few of the sketches* Each of these people posed for about seven and a half minutes on this sketchy zoom call. People from Europe, US, and beyond participated!
I confess there are days when I feel so totally overwhelmed about the world in which we are now living. But, thankfully, painting and drawing, and sharing each with you helps keep me centered and even calm and hopeful.
How About You
How are you doing gentle reader? I hope you are AOK? Please share what you are doing to navigate these unsettling times. I really look forward to hearing from you!
10 Comments
Diana Weinberg
February 27, 2025I love your insights and weekly commentary on your beautiful paintings and sketches! Thanks for the dose of sunshine each week!
Julie Holmes
February 27, 2025Hi Dianaaaa,
TY so much. I actually thought of you, Amy and your crew as I wrote about houses that become homes because they’re filled with l-o-v-e!!! So glad you find some sunshine here good buddyyyy. xo
Alexandra
February 27, 2025Lovely painting – especially enjoyed your rendering of the canister in the lower left of the painting. Also, wonderful portraits – fresh and expressive! Sending love to you, Julie! xoxo
Julie Holmes
February 27, 2025Hi Alexandra,
TY for looking! The little canister was my mom’s music box and it held her face powder in the top of it. I remember standing by her vanity while she used it to “freshen up.” Lots of memories. Sending love back at ya Alexandraaaa! xoxo
Patricia Reid
February 28, 2025I’ve been leaning into Thomas Merton as well as Buddhist teachings, yoga and my faith in a Higher Power. Love what you’re doing. Thanks and be gentle with yourself first!
Julie Holmes
February 28, 2025Hi Pat!
Sounds as if you have a really fantastic “toolkit” to cope with all that’s happening in this world. Yay! I love what you’re doing too. And, I’ll do my best to be gentle with self and hope you will too. xoxo
Ruth
March 1, 2025Julie,
You’re doing so many positive things to counteract the chaos and uncertainty. Your ability to create something lovely is such a gift to us. I’m glad it’s good work that helps you too.
Ruth
Julie Holmes
March 5, 2025Hi Ruth, TY! Not sure what I would do without painting and writing about painting. I sure am grateful that you enjoy it too. Take care and xoxo
Beth Clary
March 6, 2025realized this morning that while I read this post last week (on my phone from the Maine wilderness) I didn’t comment. I loved it a week ago and still do today! So many objects that carry such strong memories and emotion with them. It’s a beautiful expression of “true” love of family, at least to me!
AND, your efforts to get people to plug in to their own power of expression is something that has helped me a lot. My weeks have been better knowing I’ve done SOMETHING. Hope that all these good somethings from all these people in the world will make a difference! Keep that faith!
Thank you!
Julie Holmes
March 6, 2025Thank youuuuu Beth!!! So glad you enjoyed seeing these memories from our past. xoxo