My Friend Bob

I just can't resist it any longer...I had the good fortune to meet a talented artist many years ago while I consulted for a Austin, Texas based book publisher. Bob Bretz was the head of graphic design for the company. Over the years, I got to know him very well because as the PR person, I had constantly ask him and his team to produce images or send them to magazines when a story was hitting.

In this time period, I learned that he is also a Fine Artist -- and I say that with all reverence...A trained fine artist with excellent educational credentials to boot. Through the last 7 years, I have watched his work blossom and he recently left the corporate world so that he (and his equally talented wife) could paint full time.

This image is from his Simpler Times series and I am thoroughly in love with the optimism and colors in the entire series. I purchase a few of the images as notecards so that I can share them with friends. I also purchased two paintings (one from Bob and one from Marie) that are now proudly displayed in my home. As you would expect knowing our history with Beth, many of his paintings move me to tears. When I have enough strength one day, there is one in particular I would like to purchase...

But back to the fun stuff...
Bob is also donating his time in creating the graphics for an upcoming NICU fundraising event (more on that later). Anyway, I want to help promote Bob's work in anyway I can thus my reason for showing one of his works and his URL here. www.paintallnightstudios.com Bob's site links directly to a nifty art site called ETSY where artists promote and sell their works. It is a great way to support artists and have the chance to see wonderful talent.