For the past nine years I have been busy painting Views of The Villages and the collection has grown to 67 original oil paintings. Life in this active retirement community is quite unique and it is often difficult to describe The Villages' Lifestyle to outsiders, because they just can't image such active senior citizens. My 89 year young mother's friend is 95 and he plays golf every week and still drives at night! My mother RUNS on the treadmill for a mile three mornings every week. Centarians play golf and even make holes in one! With over 100,000 residents and 50,000 golf carts I can assure you that we don't just sit in a rocking chair all day, but we could if that is our choice. I hope that the gallery of my paintings, Views of The Villages by Diana Crow, conveys this lifestyle to viewers and evokes treasured memories for years to come. 

 

This year the VAA ART EXTRAVAGANZA was held on Valentine's Day and when a patron purchased the original oil painting, Summer Garden as a gift for her daughter and the canvas print, Hibiscus at Cane Garden, as a gift for herself I arranged a Formal Black Tie Delivery by Dick Thibault complete with Valentine Candy and Flowers for Ann and Sheila!

  

 

The beginning of the New Year signaled the beginning of new paintings. In January I was busy completing, At Home in The Village of Winifred, which was commissioned by a patron as a surprise gift for her husband. 

 

Also in January when I was invited to paint on site at Colonial Days at Brownwood's Paddock Square in The Villages and the costume you see me wearing was made by my mother in two days with help from her new friends at The Carriage House, Elsie and Mary. I'm the short one between the stilt walkers!

 

At Ye Old Art Gallery I chose to paint a patriotic subject, Eagle at Eisenhower. The completed painting shows the Memorial to the Armed Forces at the entrance to Eisenhower Recreation Center in The Villages. This center is decorated with military memorabilia donated by service men and women who live in The Villages as well as items that belonged to President Eisenhower.

 

 

It is only mid February and I look forward to enjoying painting and creating more treasured memories...........for years to come!