Latest News!

I have not been keeping with my update!  There is so much to update.  Will do so soon! There are also a lot of art work to update. Stay tuned!  Thanks for all your support.  God Bless. 

Additions

We have included another member to our family.  Would like to welcome Tigger Tharp!  

Painting

Have been paitning up a storm and have not had the chance to include some of my latest paintings!  Will add them as soon as I can. However I have taken with the facebook and have no trouble updating the facebook.  I think I like the facebook very much because you stay connected and you get to know your friends and fans more intimately.  

 

Pets 

Halley was our first indoor cat.  After Halley passed away it took me two years to bring myself to get another pet.  I could not bring myself to get another cat because Halley was special.

Two years ago we added another member to the family!  I have never had a dog for a indoor pet. Ari was my first experience as an indoor dog.  Ari changed my life for ever.  He is a joy and easy to love.  Ari is not just a pet or a dog, to us Ari is a member of the family.  We love and adore him with all our heart.

I now support Second Chance for Animals, SPCA and every organization that takes care of abused or abandon animals.

 

Joan Vinal: My Best Friend and Art Teacher

Joan Vinal is not only my art teacher but also a dear friend.  I learned about Joan 10 years ago from an beautiful English model that had recently moved to North Carolina and lived in the same neighborhood as Joan. She was taking art lessons from her, as well.  There are no coincidences! 

Joan gave art lessons out of her home and has had an interesting variety of students through the years.  Although lessons began at 10 am and end at 2 pm, they never started or ended on time!  The students would all stroll in one by one and join Joan in her kitchen for a cup of coffee and chat for an hour or so before heading to the art room to get busy with the day's lesson.  Joan worked with students of all different skill-levels at the same time. She would begin lessons by focusing on the basics (e.g., measuring, enlarging, reducing, perspective, shading, texture, etc.) for the newer students before moving on to those with more experience. 

Around noon we would head back to the kitchen for our lunch (we all brought our lunch) and more chat, which we eventually started to call Art Wrap.  After about an hour, we would all head back to the art room.  Usually the students would leave around 3pm, but I would stay and visit with Joan for another hour or so.  I enjoyed my time with Joan. She shared a special relationship with each of her students, but I would like to think that the time we spent together after class allowed our relationship to grow deeper than one of merely student and teacher.  

At the beginning of this year Joan suffered major health crisis and had to move to an assisted living facility.  It was hard to acclimate to the idea that my dear friend would not be able to do all the day-to-day activities we all take for granted. Joan is a special lady; she taught me life's most rewarding lesson, and she was not going to let her medical condition stand in her way of living life to the fullest. 

Joan began giving art lessons in her suite at the assisted living center.  I really looked forward to my days with Joan, and I cherish every moment I spent with her. Our dinners out together were some of my most treasured memories with her.

Every time I visited with Joan she has something funny to share.  Usually, it was a cartoon sketch of a fellow residence that is notorious or unpopular.  Joan's positive attitude, sense of humor and love of life in the midst of a situation that would cause most of us to despair are still humbling and inspiring.  After my visits with Joan, I felt like I have been on a spiritual journey. Sadly, Joan left us all the beginning of this year, but her spirit and her memory are still fresh in my mind.  

Friends and Family Who Inspire Me

I am so blessed because I am surrounded by wonderful and loving people who have made it possible for me follow my passion.

Melita Hunt was kind enough to buy my first painting even though I didn't think much of it!  Even though Melita is no longer with us, I will always be grateful to her for that kind gesture. 

My husband, Van Tharp, has encouraged and supported me all these years with my personal and spiritual growth. Without his encouragement and support  it would not have been possible for me to be artist.  Thanks to him I dare to believe in myself and follow my passion.

My niece Nanthini, who is like a daughter to us, is the pride and joy of my life.  She is a beautiful, gifted young lady. Her presence in my life is such a joy. 

Then there is Libby Adams.  Libby is my personal coach who dares me to dream and dream big.  She is always there to help me whenever I start to have a little doubt in dreams and goals.