Reverse the Curse

In 2002, when I graduated from nursing school, I up & moved to Boston. I knew no one there, never visited there, I just thought I should go some where I'd never been before. I quite literally woke up one day and decided I should move to Boston. My arrival in Boston in July of 2002 brought me not only 2000 miles away from my family, but also to a much bigger city than I'd ever experienced. I was in complete culture shock & having frequent panic attacks...for many, many, months. I wanted to turn around and go home immediately. Plus, the city was cursed. It said so every where. It was written on every single over pass and bridge. Graphited all over the city and no one seemed to bother to clean off the graffiti....Evah. Honestly, I had no idea what "Reverse the Curse" meant, but the day I got up the courage to ask (after 3 months of living there) what the "reverse the curse" is, was the first time in my life I thought I might actually die from a fire breathing, eye dagger shooting human...either that or they were going to spontaneous combust. "You "shittin me?" Ahhhhh..... noooooo? Is it related to Salem? "Are you (Fbomb) shittin me!?" Ahhhhh......nooooooo? Silence. Breathing. Silence.

 

So it was my brief time there and ability to live amongst the wicked and the cursed that has helped me somewhat with my own "curses".

 

This painting is the fourth different painting on this same canvas board. Usually I will attempt to shoot daggers at a cursed canvas, unsuccessfully, or if really cursed, I will perform a special kind of curse reversal that involves a plastic bag and a garbage truck....and eventually a fire breathing incinerator.

I gave this guy one last attempt & painted a wild flower field that I've hiked many times up in Crested Butte and often thought about when I was homesick, having panic attacks out east. 

Wild Field (2016)
Oil on cursed canvas board 8x8

                                                           

I'd like to say that my residence in Boston from '02-'04 helped reverse the curse, but I don't want to have another brush with death.....

EVAH!

-Cheree

Dissecting nurses

I am a nurse. I have worked in the profession for 14 years, with 10 of those years directly at the bedside. For those who do not know any nurses; we have a gruesome and often times inappropriate sense of humor. It's not that we are insensitive, but rather the opposite. We see things, do things, and deal with things that no one should ever have to....EVER! And these things can't be "unseen",.....EVER! It is with this profession that a protection of this sick sense of humor sometimes develops, just to get you through it all. And it is because of this nurseness that every time I cut into a piece of fruit I can't help but feel that I have performed a hemicorporectomy. It's not normal, I know. It's rather creepy, but I just think it...Every. Single. Time. 

WARNING: if you decide to google this term, please know the images are graphic. For the faint of heart, I would recommend just cutting a piece of fruit and being okay with that. Here are also a few of mine to view. 

'Cado 2016
Oil on Clay Board 6x6
Click to Bid

Kiwi Together 2016
Oil on Canvas  Board 6x6
SOLD

Lemon Half 2016
Oil on canvas board 6x6
SOLD

So, if you're not a nurse, please be sure to thank them, appreciate them, and forgive their sick sense of humor, as their job is not ever easy & you don't want to do it. 

And if you are a nurse...Let's take time to enjoy that well deserved amputated fruit.

-Cheree

Dog years

Growing up, it's always been me and my 2 siblings. My younger brother and my Dad's dog.

My brother and I have always played second fiddle to the Dog, regardless of whether it was Mr. Flanders, Birds, Peepers, or Sparkles. Dad and ____________ (fill in current dog) had an unbreakable bond. I mean, seriously....when I asked my Dad to write something for my Mom's 60th birthday celebration he said: "I love your Mom because she always put up with and let me have my dog." (God Bless my Mom). It was understood that "the Dog" was going to get the good scrapes of meat, the best seat on the couch, popcorn snacks, talked to in a "special dog" voice (those with dogs, don't deny it, you know you all do it) and the weekend ride on the boat with free beer included. FREE BEER! And I know one of my sisters tried many an opportunity to get her freebies.....Lush. 

The Dog...Always and Forever Dad's Favorite. 

Spark...aka Sparkles (2016)
Oil on Canvas Borad 8x10

They rarely out live us & the loss............ not even in dog years could one speed up the heartache; but I was told if you're really good in this life, you get to come back in the next life as a dog. 

Henry (2016)
Oil on Gesso Board 11x9

"Dogs are the best kind of people." -Dad
I sure hope I come back as one of the dogs. 

-Cheree