My Little Mermaid

I have a daughter who I’m convinced is part mermaid. She loves to paint mermaids and to dive into the sea of adventure… Her recent deep-sea dip took her to Phuket Thailand, where she teaches English. Yet no matter where her inquisitive nature takes her, she always manages to buy art supplies, and to paint, …

Paint My Life with Color by Elya Filler

Paint My Life with Color  is a themed collection of paintings that my daughter, Elya, assembled on Etsy. Elya admired the work of these artists and featured their paintings along with hers. Elya paints my life with color, and I wince every time I think about her move to Thailand in a couple of weeks. She will be …

When the Heart Must Bend, Featuring Paintings by Acrylic Artist Elya Filler

My daughter's recent paintings reflect her desire to travel the world again, and I know my heart must bend. Not break, mind you, but bend to the will of my precious girl who lights up the room with a smile. I must bend to her passion to travel and teach English abroad, again. Bend to …

Contentment

Have you ever longed for something or someone for a very long time? Perhaps the object of your desire was a new job where you could shine or friends with whom your heart-felt safe. Maybe your searching led you to a new home, a new art form, or an adopted daughter. Whatever the “found,” you …

The Acrylic Painting of Artist Elya Filler

Today I celebrate an artist's recent success. An artist I've had the privilege of watching emerge since she was just a wee thing, my daughter Elya Filler. Elya began creating as far back as I can remember. She would escape into her room and get lost in making tiny books and writing stories about horses. …

Silence

“It doesn’t matter if anyone else understands. You do, and that’s all that matters to me.” The words stir my mind; a mind transfixed on silence. Only the refrigerator’s hum fills the still as I’m thinking… What would it be like if I were alone, every evening, in an endless string of solitudes?  Silence, the womb …

Colorful Acrylic Painting of Tree and the Desire to Give

This post features my daughter's dream...selling her paintings to help the poor: I’ve recently come up with the idea of a small social enterprising company called, “The Giving Tree.” Essentially, I’d like to start by selling artwork, paintings and photographs, and use the profits to empower locals in developing countries through already established microfinancing organizations, …

My Life Mantra by Elya Filler

My daughter shares her life mantra through photographs. You're going to love this post! Forgive those who have hurt you. Let go. Ask for forgiveness from those you have hurt. Travel to destinations you’ve never planned to see. Don’t ever let yourself get too comfortable.

The Black Hole of Lost Love

My daughter, Elya, wrote a poem she titled, "The Black Hole of Lost Love." Her new painting illustrates the poem. She presents an artistic perspective of unrequited love and love we leave behind.