R. I. P. Betty Horasek

Rest in peace Flaurence (Betty) Horasek, Cincinnati's Grandma Moses -- talented artist and friend

No, I will not be at Final Friday tonight or Art in Action tomorrow at the Pendleton. Instead I’ll be honoring the life of friend and fellow artist Betty Horasek, pictured here in a portrait painted by Jan Boone.

Full of life, Betty was the mother of one of my best friends. In fact, the two of them are directly responsible for starting me painting again in 2005. And they’ve both blessed my life in many other ways as well.

Last weekend at my high school reunion in Findlay, I thrilled listening to the musical talents of my classmates – Dominic Piernunzio on ukulele and guitar, Doug Cross on saxophone, and songwriter Jim Wolfe on guitar. And ever since, I’ve been thinking about how much creative – artists, musicians, dancers, actors, writers, etc. – rely on other people encouraging and supporting their talents.

Kind of like gardening: a seed of talent is planted within you, your gift. But without careful cultivation – watering, fertilizing, weeding, and sometimes even transplanting – that seed may not blossom and bloom fully.

Betty Horasek was one of my gardeners, and I will surely miss her! Today is a day to thank some of the others who are still here to receive my gratitude:

• My parents, who paid for and took me to art classes and allowed me to major in Fine Arts, even though they feared I’d be “starving in an attic” someday

• Laurie, Dan, and Suellen – my “four’s company” lifelong friends

• Margie – who sent me to her mom’s teacher

• Elmer & Ellen – treasured coach and mentor, and his lovely wife, both dear friends

• Mary Anne – who prodded me to enter my first art show and gave me my first sale, buying the first acrylic painting I did after starting again in 2005 
• Dan – my first home portrait commission 
• Freddi – who made me signs, helped me with my logo and branding, and got up early many mornings and sat all day at outdoor shows with me helping to sell my work 
• The rest of my family, especially Mark & Lisa, for all the van rides and loading/unloading 
• Lana – who gave me her mother Elaine’s studio easel and paints, which I still use 
• The whole WGLF gang, who has helped me set up and tear down exhibits and supports and encourages me every week 
• Nancy Rembold and Sondra Moore – who allowed me to share their Pendleton studio 
• Glenda, Stacie, Dodie, and Margi – talented artists and smart, generous studio-mates who’ve helped me grow tremendously 
• Everyone who has purchased or displayed my work 
• All you folks who came to my opening and helped me celebrate my first gallery show at University of Cincinnati Clermont and 
• My Findlay High School classmates who were so encouraging last weekend

Next month I should be at Pendleton’s Final Friday on August 30 and Art in Action Saturday Aug 31. Here are a few things I’ve been working on lately