We spent our anniversary weekend in Orlando, attending a painting class that Megan taught and, afterward, a charity for cystic fibrosis to which she’d been invited. The charity was held on the shores of Lake Eola, outside World of Beer, which occupies one of the prime spots on the lake.
She was asked to set up her easel and paints outside and work on a painting that was related to Orlando, which would later be auctioned for the charity. She chose to paint the lake with one of the trademark swans as the central figure. These swans live on the lake, are cared for and fed by the city, and are an endless source of fascination for residents and tourists alike.
In the evenings, the swans are seen settling in under the trees around the lake or taking a last minute swim before the sun sets. There are white and black swans and their cute offspring. Several months back, some of the baby swans were stolen, presumably for the black market, and were never found.
She had started the painting at home and finished it over several hours as Rob and I hung out with her. She painted it from a photograph on her phone. I was fascinated by how she could create anything in a crowd like his. People came up and watched her paint, commenting on the colors and the image. Several members of the press videotaped and photographed her. Megan, a double Virgo perfectionist, kept refining the painting, adding details.
The irony, perhaps something of a trickster synchro, is this particular image has something of a history. Several years ago, Megan was walking her dog, Nika, on a leash, outside the apartment building where she lived. Nika saw a squirrel and tore away from her, into the road, and was struck by a car. Nika was flipped into the air and slammed into the road. When Megan reached her, she thought Nika was dead. She scooped her up and sped to the vet’s office. The upshot was countless tests, a $1,200 vet bill, bruises, but no serious injuries.
While she was at the vet’s, the driver of the car, a young man, rushed into her apartment building and announced that a dog had hit his car and he wanted the owner’s name. He filed a police report and because Nika was technically leashed but running free, he sued Megan for damages to his car. He took her to court and the mediators deemed that Megan owed him $1,200, that she could repay at $100 a month.
Go figure, right? HE hit the dog, then takes her to court. Judge Judy heard about the case and invited them both on her show – all expenses paid to LA, and regardless of her final judgment, the show would pay the driver what he was owed. The driver refused to accept the invitation, probably because he knew he would look like the jerk he is. So, for eight months, Megan paid him his hundred bucks. Then, in the eighth month, he contacted her.
“You’re an artist, right? How about if you paint me something and we’ll call it even.”
This was the painting she did for him. The first time around, the swan painting goes to this jerk. The second time around, it goes to a charity auction for cystic fibrosis. From bad to beautiful.
Before the end of the charity, the organizer told Megan that they wanted to hold off on the auction until a charity event t in December, at the Ritz Carlton golf tournament. He felt the painting would go for much more than the $100 price Megan had placed on it. Rob and I agree and I think this beautiful swan would, too.
Beautiful painting! Megan is uniquely talented! Her use of colors is masterful and rare, and draws the viewer into her paintings. I foresee a wonderful future for her as a special artist. Jane, my personal totem is a BLACK SWAN!! At the end of a short story I wrote a few year years ago, in which a black swan played a significant role, I penned this on the final page as the epilogue:
“Oh, welcome Friend, the Night! Her widespread wings like softest feather down….. A great Black Swan who comes to lift me up and and fly with me behind the Twilight Veil!”
Wow! That’s beautiful, CJ. How intriguing that oyu and Jane, both mediumistic psychics, have the black swan as totems.
Such talent! Swan is my personal totem; cystic fibrosis something I have first hand experience of since my best friends boy died of it age 20 after refusing a lung transplant. I had often nursed him and had him stay with em from when he was 3 years old.
Celebrating Megan’s talent and generosity to this charity!
What a beautiful totem to have!
Interesting choice of a swan…kind of the Ugly Duckling Story.
Beautiful painting!
I hadn’t thought of it that way, but you’re right, Vicki!
What a story – I’m sad for Megan that she had to deal with a sociopathic creep like that.
Hope I never run into the dude!
From Jenean, on facebook:
i remember when nika was hit by this guy! the painting is beautiful – i’ve always loved megan’s use/mastery of color – great she is getting such exposure – good for her! and you’re right – from bad to beautiful! go, megan!
Love the colours! Great Job, Megan and good luck with your auction. 🙂