The Art of Life

I love getting a handwritten card in the mail.

Immediate communication tools like texting, email, Messenger, and Instagram have given us the ability to respond and send messages all over the place very quickly. But for me nothing beats a card with a thoughtful message, regardless of the penmanship.

I was reminded of this starting in August of 2022 when in the normal stack of bills and promotional offers was a card like I had not received before. Colorful dots, circles, butterflies, and the words Love, Hope, Joy and Faith drawn in marker, was on the front. Strips of different flowers and foxes joined in the center where a raised daisy and leaves had been placed.

On the back, a handwritten note in marker, “Dear Tim & Cindi, I was thinking of you when I made this!” The occasion was our Anniversary.

All handmade, the card was from Karen Lewis.

We recently spoke to Karen by phone about her art and the many forms it has taken since she took a class in high school. “I have just always enjoyed it,” she said referring to sewing dolls, water color paintings, and colored pencil art, “a little bit of everything,” or mixed media art.

When asked about the cards, Karen said that she made them years ago. “I think of a person it would bless, find their address in my book and bless them!” She further explained that the cards were made during a time when her family were supporting each other through illness.

The joy of creating and art has also been passed to her daughter Kristyn who teaches Art Education in high school and paints.

Although she posts on Facebook and has placed some pieces for sale, I felt impressed that Karen enjoys expressing life through art, no matter the circumstances. It is part of who she is.

We have received five more cards in the past year. Each one is unique, detailed, colorful, and uplifting.

Karen Lewis lives in Trenton, MI and has two children, Gary and Kristyn. She also has two grandchildren. Karen posts her art on Facebook and someday, if you’re lucky, you may get a card.