Every Day Beauty, colored pencil on vellum

Every Day Beauty
colored pencil on vellum
7in x 5in
copyright Rose Welty

As I was casting around for an idea for my next flower portrait, I came across some lilies in the store. My first instinct was to draw them, they are such a beautiful flower. My second thought was that they are so common in the art world, everyone has drawings and paintings of lilies. As I thought more about it, I realized that we do that alot - we overlook beauty just because it is around us every day.

I'm thinking here of those ladies - you know the ones, the ones who never make it to the salon often enough, wear clothes they've had for years, choose comfort over fashion - instead they get up early every day and make sure everyone else has enough to eat and clothes to wear, they take care of that hurting neighbor, they don't forget important days and events in the lives of others, and they always have time and energy for someone who needs a listening ear.

Such ladies are very common in a sense, they are found all over and you likely don't notice them. But, in a greater sense, they are rare and precious and bring beauty to our lives.