12 x 14

Oil on Board

Shadow Frame

Last summer, just because we thought they looked cool, and had never done it, we bought some paper lanterns with a tiny candle in them that you release once they are lit. The hot air from the candle carries the light weight of the paper balloon and when they are released it is just magical. This summer we released them for my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary and we released them then again during my family reunion at Nimrod. Every single face, bar none, was just filled with awe and delight. Why is that? Why does it do that to us? All it is is a glowing bag of air floating in the sky,  but it is simply magical. True to myself, I created a series of work practically before they burned out. This one is the largest piece and I look at it and get that magical feeling all over again.  Children, Middle Aged People, Old People- every single person was simply mesmerized. This painting is from my family reunion and catches some of the younger children of the group who were watching and waiting to release their own to the light show.