While speaking I realized just what an impact those moments were to my life as an artist. Not only did she have great patience with my creating and messing her clean kitchenette but she had to keep making and providing me with the dough to sculpt. To the best of my knowledge my Yiaya never painted, drew, or sculpted. However she did sew, crochet, cook and bake until arthritis got the best of her.

 I went to Georgia last month to visit my Yiaya who is around 97 years old give or take a year in either direction. She is about 4’6” but a real little dynamo. She is an amazing woman who is still a force to be reckoned with and a great inspiration to me. She spent her whole life until the age of 90 taking care of everyone else. For years she cooked and baked for all her family, friends, and strangers. Although, no one once meeting her, remained a stranger, because she has this rare quality of making everyone feel as if they are the most important person in her life at that very moment. 

At 92, when she moved to assisted living I thought she would have a hard time adjusting, however something occurred that I hadn't counted on. She blossomed into a budding young artist. Yiaya is painting, and creating beautiful magnolia sculptures in her ceramics classes. She has also made ceramic piggy banks for her great, their dream. She is able to follow hers now. I thank God for that.  She loves her classes and looks forward the whole weekend to her classes during the week.

This painting above is Yiaya's. and to the right is a picture of Anthe Capitan my Yiaya January 2008  in her ceramics class at age 97.        

I am so grateful that I am able to follow my dream as well. You see, I had always made art from as far back as I could remember. However there was a time in my career following a bus and auto accident, where I was unable to use my hands. I stepped out in faith using much prayer and all the strength God had given me. I figured if He gave me this talent and if He needed it back than He would find something else for me to do.

Thank God He felt art was exactly what He had planned for me, only with a slight detour of about a year.  God lead me on an amazing journey of faith which took me to a surgeon where my hand was restored. It was only after the loss of use of my right hand created a challenge for me that I realized what a gift it was and I began to take it much more seriously.

I had a miraculous recovery. After surgery all my dexterity returned as well as all my abilities to create art. I thank God for restoring my hands and that I was able to get back to the making of art.
So I have posted here my latest in my Greek heritage collection from the series "Greek Life Now and Then" which I feel pays homage to my Yiaya. 

She came here as a child bride from Greece adopting this country as her own but never losing her heritage and passing that along to me. These will be available at my show in MAY at "Art Gallery Home" of the Ocean City Fine Arts League in Ocean City New Jersey.

  For more details check under events link on website home page. Thanks.