The Bluebird of Happiness

Several years ago while on a trip to Nova Scotia, I encountered the charming artwork of Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis. It was through her that I discovered that one’s “home” could be a canvas on which to bring a joyful riot of color into your life by painting cats, horses, buggies, children sledding – whatever suits your fancy – on your walls, doors, and windows! Which is exactly what Maud did in spite of crippling arthritis and a life scarred by loss and hardship (such a brave woman, I thought.) And so, after moving to a ranch house in Leeds in early 2020, facing a pandemic and having basement walls to paint, I, a 72 year old former librarian and children’s book author who had never painted any art work in her life, took a deep breath and just did it. Using old acrylic paint my daughter had given me, I painted my first scene – “The Bluebird of Happiness.” Every time I pass that painting, I smile and think, I can’t believe I did that.