What’s up with all these sock monkey paintings? Here’s the story behind the big red grin.
It all started with my mother’s sock monkey. I inherited it after her passing. At the time I was overwhelmed by the number of things she left behind, so I tucked the sock monkey into an old cedar chest and there it sat for many years.
One day, in response to a painting competition, I set up a still-life tribute to my mom. I’ve always used my creativity to process life, and my first sock monkey painting was created as a way of working through my unresolved grief of losing my mother to cancer.
Mom was a brilliant musician and gifted teacher with a keen sense of humor. When I was thinking of items to add to the still-life, I remembered Mom’s sock monkey. and I decided it was the perfect symbol to embody all of her qualities.
Something magical happened when I started to paint the first sock monkey painting. I felt I was channeling mom’s love into the artwork. After I finished the first piece, I realized that there were many more paintings in the wings just waiting to emerge. Lots of them! In fact, I have completed over 44 paintings.
The wonderful thing about this work is that they make me smile, and I discovered that they make other people smile too! Click here to see more monkeys 🙂
Here’s what’s happened along the way:
~The children’s book, Monkey Made of Sockies, was the proud winner of the 2005 Parent To Parent Adding Wisdom Award. The only award program ever to be honored by Disney.
~He became a family of Daphne’s golf club headcovers that have been carried on tour by PGA Professional golfers, Jennifer Rosales, Mitch Thomas, and Leta Lindley, among others.
~He’s appeared at several Sock Monkey Festivals, and one of the original paintings is in the permanent collection of the Midway Village Sock Monkey Museum in Rockford, Il
~He even has his own music video…actually, two music videos!
~He’s appeared on checks, golf ball markers, coloring books, and a host of other products.
Now he’s come full circle. My original intent with these images was to create an oracle card deck. I am happy to report that it will be available in the spring of 2022. You can pre-order yours from your favorite bookseller today!
Amazing what a spark will ignite and where it will go if you fan the flame.
Thanks Mom!
I know you can see me, and you are enjoying the ride as much as I am! And I love that you are still spreading joy around the globe.