A good friend once told me, "you must be patient. If it is meant to be, it will happen." But my stubborn intellect tells me otherwise; that nothing will happen if you don't do anything to affect the result! So it is with mirthful excitement (mirth is closely related to merry) that I finally got to be there when Trent Smith presented an original painting I created for a group painting party for Mike, the Alfa Romeo specialist and supporter of the Franklin Board of Trade, right here in Columbus, Ohio.
Trent is the director of FBOT and is constantly finding opportunities to create positive changes for Franklinton! I had donated a custom paint party event as an item to be auctioned at the FBOT fundraiser and gala in 2016 and Mike Caradonna, of Mike's Foreign Car Service on West Broad in Franklinton put in the winning bid. When I found out who had won the "Private Paint Party for Ten", I set about creating a themed Alfa Romeo painting to teach to his group of friends and family; however certain circumstances and situations delayed any contact between me and Mike.
So earlier in the year (or last year, maybe?) I asked Trent to make sure Mike at least was presented with the framed art since he had contributed to the FBOT auction generously. So, in essence, both patience and prompting finally resulted in a few beers at Land Grant Brewery to reveal the work to Mike for the very first time! And that is why I do this, for the simple joy of experiencing life through art.