Happy Birthday winter solstice goddess, Mary lorraine

Mary Lorraine Predny, Oil on board, 2024.

Happy 50th Birthday to this most beautiful soul and spirit, Mary Lorraine Predny. 

I started this portrait on Thanksgiving as it was our special holiday together for many years, and I finished just in time to get prints sent out in honor of her birthday and with the hope that everyone could send her soul and spirit some love on this most magical day, the Winter Solstice.  

While painting Mary's portrait, I tangibly felt her spirit in the room with me, and it brought me incredible joy, happiness, peace and so much love. She sat in the room with me a few times while I painted over the years, and we just listened to music and talked a bit, and sometimes we just sat there in silence and enjoyed each other's presence.
​It was almost as if she was sitting in the room with me while I painted her portrait. I could even hear her bossing me around and directing me while I was painting her. It was such a beautiful and spiritual process to try to bring her to life in a painting. It's not perfect, mind you, and even looking at it, I see many areas where I was a bit off, but I love it in all it's flaws and imperfection, much like I loved my Mary Lorraine. 

To me, Mary was one of the most beautiful human beings in the world- physically and spiritually. She was so brilliant, creative, thoughtful, resourceful, witty, and also simple, yet always extremely exciting and a ton of fun to be around. I have so many wonderful memories of amazing adventures that I will always cherish and hold so dear to my heart. I am also a huge believer that nothing can be destroyed or created, and even when our physical manifestation ceases to exist, our soul and spirit lives on for eternity. Even though Mary is no longer physically here with us, she is now our guardian angel, smiling down on us from up above in the heavens and among the stars, moon and sun. 

Peace and much love to all.