Second Banana: Winner!

Some days stick in my mind clear as a bell.
One early December day back in Houston, I took a walk, photographing the neighborhood color change, (which had just arrived on Dec. 2nd!) and then on a whim, I whirled away from the fall foliage to snap a picture of the tropical garden staple flaunting what it could of color change.

Frustrated that other parts of the country were beginning to sing Christmas carols, while I was still in hot humid territory, I made up Fall Carols to sing. And I met a cat riding in a tow truck and learned that the driver had just rescued the lovely feline from off of the freeway!

The walk was pretty special, not just for the fall colors and all, but also because a few weeks ago, the walk and the blog posting also lead me to a new friend.

I received a comment from someone asking for permission to paint one of my blog pictures. Specifically the banana tree picture I took about three years ago. Linda Bray, as it turned out was a prolific artist, and a fellow Christian.

Of course I gave her my permission to paint from my photo; so often I look at my photos and wished I could take the time to paint them myself.

I was glad to that someone had the time, talent and interest in doing what I could not.

(I would never have selected the banana tree photograph to paint....which just goes to show how much I have to learn about art!)

Last weekend I received this letter in my email in box:

Hi again Jill.

I'm proud to announce that our little Banana tree has won an award in a juried competition. So what if it didn't place or win any cash? It got recognized and that just makes my day.You can go to this link to see the other entries that won the top places and awards. Looks to me like we are in good company. I hope it's OK with you that I gave you credit on my site for the inspiration for "Second Banana" All my best, Linda Bray


Done as an 36inch X 24 inch acrylic painting entitled Second Banana, it came in as a FINALIST!!!

Linda now has the painting up for sale on her website, and she was so gracious about acknowledging me as the photographer for the picture that inspired her.

Well, it may have taken a couple of years, but that lowly banana tree that couldn't compete with all the fall colors nearby in the end has come out shone the rest.

What fun!

Congratulations to Linda, and to see this painting on her website, along with the rest of her WONDERFUL paintings, click right HERE.

Isn't it great to see the work of a Christian artist? Linda shared that she has contacted several bloggers asking for permission to paint their photos and has been just astonished to find that the photographers were all Christians, and all were willing to share their work.

Isn't that just cool?

I sure think it is!

(Be sure to have a look at Linda's dreamy landscape paintings. Mmmm....bliss!)