What is the most important thing in your life? It should be family, friends, your job, your health, and maybe anything that makes you feel happy and brings joy to your life. Have you thought about what it should not be? Boy, I have, because I see it happening everywhere. Have we become a society more interested in what is happening on our cell phones than what is happening around us? Everywhere I travel I see people more attached to their cell phones than attune to to who or what is happening around them. Are they/you missing out on conversations with family and friends? Are they/you texting and not talking?

One beautiful afternoon in Napa my husband and I were enjoying each other’s company while tasting sparkling wine at a lovely winery. We enjoyed several varieties of sparkling wine with a perfectly prepared charcuterie board. As I looked to take pleasure in enjoying the surrounding scenery at Domaine Carneros I could not help but notice the couple sitting out on the balcony in front of us. They were not talking to each other, not enjoying the setting and not even tasting the sparkling wine or nibbling from the charcuterie board. They were tied to/attached to their individual cell phones, ignoring each other and the surroundings. I thought to myself as I looked over at them they were ruining a perfectly wonderful afternoon.

When I am out and about I try to always take in what is around me, and enjoy the company of the person or people I’m with. It is true, that I might quickly bring out my cell phone to take a photo of something I think might make a fun painting or a good reference for part of a painting, but I would never of thought of spending that much time on my cell phone. But in truth I do have to add that I do not always get texts back right away or return emails as promptly as other people I know. I have been known to turn off the sound on my phone and forget to turn it back on for quite a while. Maybe I should check it a little more often for at least a brief moment.

Seeing this “Cell Phone  Phenomena”, I decided to paint a series of paintings honoring (ha ha) what part of our lifestyle seems to becoming.

From this photo, I painted my first commentary. It is only an 8 x 10, but I think you get the message?

In the winter of the year, we took a Viking Cruise throughout Europe, and one day in Barcelona I captured this family, which looked to be a grandfather and his grandchildren. I wonder what they will remember about the day? Grandpa was so busy reading the news, watching sports or playing a game he did not have time to have fun with them?

I am never going to be a grandmother that interacts or in this case does not interact and enjoy my granddaughter. I hope you do not relate to the three people in this photo.

I was showing my work at a street fair (that will be a whole other blog) a week or so ago, and looked across the street and captured this photo:

So I haven’t painted this one yet, but I see it coming soon. What do you think?