Return to the Sea

Last year I was asked to paint a mask for Covenant Hospice. (They provide the clay mask) I was honored to be asked to participate again this year. Covenant Hospice provides end of life care for anyone who calls on them, whether they have the ability to pay or not. The masks are auctioned off as a fundraiser to help them continue this service. The event was very successful last year, hopefully this year will be even better.

My contribution is a tribute to my neighbor Charley who lost his battle with cancer last October. See previous posts, "A Tribute to Charley" and "Mask for Covenant Hospice".

Charley lived most of his life near or on the Gulf of Mexico. He was very concerned with the environment and loved being near the water. He relished the beautiful sunsets, the roar of the waves, and smell of salt in the air.

I used Swarovski crystal beads to symbolize the light he brought into my life. The driftwood is a piece that he collected while walking his dogs by the bay. There are fish, small shells, a flip flop and other objects tucked in the driftwood, all symbolic of things he loved or of things that reminded me of him. I remember how much fun we had last year while I was working on last year's piece. He would like this one as well.