Brigitte's Paintings

(CLEVELAND ) - There are only a few people I have had the pleasure of meeting who can create images like the ones that accompany this poem. We are pleased to bring a snapshot of these beautiful works from Brigitte O'Dowd, daughter of Salem-News.com writer Robert O'Dowd, who along with other members of our team, has worked tirelessly to educate Marines and Marine Veterans about the hazards they face from military base contamination which is a massive problem that potentially affects millions who served.

Robert explains that these are some of his daughter Brigitte’s paintings. She works mostly in oil, clearly excelling in the creation of portrait style paintings that amazingly capture the mood and features of her subjects, in a way that is both dreamy and extremely lifelike...

In an always humble frame of mind, her dad jokingly says, "I have no idea where she got her talent from. I can't draw a straight line without a ruler".

But Bob O’Dowd can sure research a story, and his heart is large and rich as is his faith in God, which explains many things when you learn his story of serving in the Marines, and then battling and beating service-related cancer. I am blessed to have Bob and Luke on this team of Salem-News.com writers and there is not a day that passes that I don't appreciate them more! -
Tim King, News Editor, Salem-News.com

Brigitte’s Paintings

Received an email from fellow contributor, Robert O’Dowd,
Paintings painted by his daughter, he had a right to be proud,
Obvious gift nurtured into a creative talent so proclaim it loud,
I scanned each canvas (mostly oil) one word stood out, Wow!

Art major @ Rowan University, graduating with honors 2006,
Dad can't draw a straight line w/o a ruler that might need a fix,
He has no idea where Brigitte got her talent from but it's okay,
As she probably has no idea where words come from you say.

Bob one thing is certain and it surely has to be her major theme,
Where ever it came from she did not let it lie a dormant dream,
One, maybe two or three, Brigitte's art we could easily dismiss,
But, it is apparent she has made the most of this incredible gift.

And although not with words like her papa if I may be so bold,
There is still an outward appreciation of family love to be told,
That painted generation of parenthood where smiles abound,
Co-joined with sadness and laughter where there is no sound.

Little one soon you'll grow, I'll no longer hold you in my arms,
However, a new grand-parent to be enhanced by the charms,
The cycle of life circles each family a new one arrives in breath,
Remembrance with a brush stroke of genus long before death.

Robert, you have planted creative awareness within your roots,
And your daughter's soulful stroke technique is part of the fruit,
One communication's via words the other through what we see,
Has it ever been truer, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

By Luke Easter