"The Tennessee River"
Helen Keller Hospital Administration Board Room

Gracie Pink in the periwinkle.

This is my precious dog who goes everywhere with me...she loves to garden, ride horses and PAINT. Her favorite person is Paul...both of them.

Shoal Creek V 40x30
The river and its creeks are so beautiful and inspiring.

La Pont Neuf

It was such a fun treat to be involved with the local chapter of the American Heart Association, Heart Ball 2009. I created this mask especially for the ball.

Trees of Hope

Acrylic/multimedia 36x48

$ 2,000.00

"Maybe all of life's promises

don't always come true,

but the mornings still come

and hopes, like sparrows,

still sing in the trees.

Flavia Weeden

View from the Dock

Acrylic on Canvas
Framed
8x10
$400

Fun Flowers painted for a special teenager. The words are all lyrics from Beetle songs. "All ya need is love...love is all ya need", etc. Acrylic on canvas 18x24

Creative Therapy

Family is top priority for me. I am blessed with an incredible husband and two awesome sons. We have alot of fun together. I grew up with one brother and two sisters. My parents have always said they raised us like a "litter" due to our closeness in age and relationships. God blessed us with such a happy family...good times!

I am told that every family has its "issues". We certainly have had some...mainly health issues. When our precious brother was diagnosed with ALS in 2005, he was 40 years young. Needless to say the entire family was devastated with the news. (Please see Bill's incredible journey through the link to his blog site.)

There is no doubt that painting has always been a means of stress relief for me and my sisters. I have been reading more and more about the benefits of artwork in reducing anxiety and stress, as well as, helping us tap our spirituality. The gift of creativity has allowed me to survive many health issues and has been crucial to my survival throughout my brother's illness and death. Grief therapy! I once said that I only paint when I am happy...now I paint when I am happy and when I want to be happy.

I urge you to find your own creative outlet. It may be painting, writing, sewing, cooking or making music. To help you unlock your own creativity I highly recommend the Creative Spirit Class taught by Carole Foret. Carole is a fantastic friend and artist in Athens, Alabama. Check out her website: http://www.caroleforet.com/

French Flowers

My dear parents took me and my sisters on an awesome trip to France this past summer. We had so much fun with each other. The colors and light are so rich and bright in Provence, much like our Alabama summers. The sunshine and healthy foods fed my soul and inspired a new series of paintings. Acrylic on canvas: 8 x 10 $ 200

Bill's Sunflowers

My brother Bill loved many things.... his family, his job, his church, to name a few. Sunflowers were what he wanted me to paint, He loved them! This painting was painted for Bill, a year after he lost his battle with ALS, known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. I donated the painting to the MDA/ALS Night of Hope, An Evening Celebrating and Supporting ALS Research which was held October 10, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia. My sisters Libby Sims Patrick and Sheri Sims Hofherr co-chaired the event. It raised over $500,000 to help find a cure for ALS. To learn more, visit the official ALS website:www.alsa.org.

Race for the Cure

"Race for a Cure" was painted for my brother, Bill. Before he died in July, 2007 it was Bill's wish that we might Never Give Up in finding a cure for ALS! Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, ALS , is widely known as Lou Gehrig's disease. It is a cruel disease that slowly destroys every muscle in your body due to inadequate nerve conduction. Please learn more about my dear brother and his quest to find a cure for ALS at http://billsims.spaces.msn.com/

3 Pears

3 Pears
Whimsical and fun these
sweet things can go anywhere.
8 x 10
$250

2 Pears

I love pears! I love the way they taste. I like their color, shape and texture. Pears make me happy and therefore I have painted hundreds of pears in all shapes, sizes and colors. Artwork really should stir something inside you...make you stop and look, laugh out loud ,or at least make you smile. To have a pear painting of you own email me at lswal@bellsouth.net

Water 2007 Series

My family and I live in the most beautiful place on earth! Florence, Alabama has trees and water and all the wildlife that goes with a deciduous forest in the south. Lucky we are! This painting represents the 2007 Water Series. Helen Keller Hospital in Tuscumbia, Alabama has ten pieces from this collection hanging in their Administrative offices and Board Room. For more information please email me at lswal@bellsouth.net

Autumn Trees

These trees were painted as a commission for a wonderful family who loves to be together and to enjoy nature. Being outside and in the natural world means everyhting to me and my family, as well. Painting trees and water has become my latest obsession. The colors can change due to season or.... to match your sofa...But, trees are always a symbol of life, health, courage and strength.

" 'Go to the trees,' the old one told me
'Ask them where they find their strength
And you will find your answer.'"

Sharron Johnston, Cree Nation
Spirit Songs

Happy Trees

Happy Trees indeed. This painting is very large and colorful. The trees reach to the sky as if with joy and excitement. They would be perfect in a den or family room. Acrylic on canvas 58 x 58 square; $3,200. For more information email me at lswal@bellsouth.net

"This thought of enlightenment is a tree of rest for the wearied world journeying on the road of being." Shantideva...quoted by Andrew Harvey

Spring Field

This painting is large with lots of brushwork. Acrylic on canvas 58 x 58. It was painted for a very special family. The blues and green echo the water and sky surrounding their beautiful home.

Bowl of Pears

More pears! As I said earlier, I love pears. They are great to eat and really fun to paint. These pears are meant for the kitchen or dining room, yet could be cool in an office, den or bathroom.
Acrylic on canvas.
11 x 14
$ 350