Mariestelle, an artist in every sense

I met her when she first appeared in my art class at the Madison County Senior Center. After the Gallery on High came together, I arranged for a show of her work.

It was during the hanging of her show that I discovered she was an accomplished artist even before I was born.

When leaving her art reception, I walked out with her to the car of a family member who was to take her home.

She looked at me and said, “I wish he could have been here to see this.”

To that statement I said to her, “What makes you think he wasn’t?” With that being said, she gave me a hug and got into the car.

I will always remember her for her smiles and bright colors.

While I personally will miss her, I am sure the reunion in Heaven was an outstanding one. I expect she will soon be painting sunsets in the real sky over Madison County.

I will be looking for her signature on the real horizon.

She left a houseful of beautiful memories in her paintings and I hope her family will enjoy them as much as we did.

So we said goodbye last week to a friend and fellow artist knowing that shortly we will all be together again. I bet that will be a wild painting class.

Harry Croghan is an artist, photographer, writer and teacher. You can send comments to croghan@dragonbbs.com or call (740) 852-4906.