My Sister’s Artwork to the Rescue

While updating the graphic below for my book (due out on May 2!), I wanted to change the bland gray-green background into something more in sync with the photo of our boat under full sail in Glacier Bay.

To find out what might be available, I did a quick web search on “FREE watercolor backgrounds.”

Watercolor samples.

Scroll, scroll, scroll.

There’s one! I thought.

Click.

Aww . . . d

ang.

Yes. I could use the sample I liked for free. But, I first had to give them my credit card data.

No way.

Idea #2

I decided, what the heck, I could paint a background like that one with my rarely used watercolor supplies. As I pushed away from my desk, a better idea popped up like a cartoon exclamation mark.  

IDEA #3 !

I went to our living room and stared at two paintings on the wall—right where I’d hung them four months ago.

How had I not thought of this first?

3 X 1 foot paintings by Carol J. Mathews.

I grabbed my iPhone and photographed my sister’s paintings then imported them into Adobe Lightroom. While cropping and zooming, I admired brush-stroke details and highlights I hadn’t noticed, even though these two paintings are among my favorites of her collection.

Here’s the revised version of the graphic at the beginning of this story with Carol’s artwork imported as the background.

Which do you prefer, the graphic at the beginning of this note, or the one below?

Painting with my sister Carol (right) in our Indiana backyard (1960s). Her artistic talent had already emerged.

I grew up with 6 siblings, but Carol—who was a year and a half younger than me—is no longer living. To have her brushstrokes, her intuitive touch, and remarkable sense of color and light be part of my writing journey brings me deep joy. 

And also, deep sorrow.

I hope you enjoy these behind-the-scenes stories. If you don’t want to receive these e-postcards, you’re always free to opt out (below)—no hard feelings at all.

I look forward to seeing some of you on my book tour, which starts in California on May 4 and proceeds to Alaska, Washington, and Indiana. Events are pending in a couple of other locations. To see the current list of interviews and bookstore readings, click EVENTS here.

If you know someone who might enjoy these stories and photos, or want to know more about what it’s like to publish a first book, forward this email and invite them to sign up at my website. It’s always easy to unsubscribe.

I love hearing from you.

Beth


Deep Waters Book Launch Events 2023

For a current listing with times please visit elizabethannmathews.com/events/

April 26 Radio Interview Live, Santa Cruz CA or Listen on KZSC Streaming

April 30 Radio Interview Live or Listen on norcalpublicmedia.org or Apple Podcasts: A Novel Idea

May 2     Deep Waters in bookstores  

May 3     Radio Interview Live, Juneau AK or Listen on KTOO Juneau Afternoon

May 4     In Person/Bookstore Santa Rosa, CA

May 9     In Person/Bookstore Corte Madera, CA

May 11   In Person/Bookstore Juneau, AK

May 25   In Person/Bookstore Bainbridge Island WA

TBD Podcast Interview, Zibby Owens Listen on Apple Podcasts

TBD Interview & Podcast, Author2Author Listen on Apple Podcast 

June 5    In Person/Bookstore Evansville IN

Aug 9     Podcast Interview, Stories that Empower Live or Listen on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify

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