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Last weekend I experienced something that I can only conclude was not chance – it was heaven-sent from a painting friend who passed away four years ago.

I had volunteered to help with the removal of the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico’s National Show at the Sorrel Sky gallery in Santa Fe. I had two works in the show that had not sold. So, upon arrival, I signed them out and placed them in the car.

About an hour later, a lady and her mother came to see the show. “Oh, the show is gone,” she exclaimed. The gallery manager welcomed her and told her she was welcome to take a look at what was still hanging. The lady pointed to a spot on the wall and said, “there was a painting up there, a snow scene…”

At this point, my inside voice threw caution to the wind and exclaimed, “that was my painting!” “It’s in the car, would you like to see it again?” She said yes, and I went to get the art.

I returned and asked her if she would like to know anything about the painting. She said yes and I proceeded to tell her about it. She shared the most wonderful comments about what she loved about it. Her mother chatted with me and shared that she had owned a gallery in Santa Fe, but I did not ask the gallery name because I was uncertain if I would know of the gallery.

The conversation moved on and the lady purchased the painting. Then the gallery manager asked if she would like to joint their email list. She said yes and proceeded to share her email address, at which point I heard her last name and turned to her mother and said, “are you (name)?”

Her mother looked surprised and said, “YES!” I then went on to share who I was and that she had represented me in her gallery many years ago.

She did not recognize me because it has been so very long since we’ve seen each other, I gained a lot of weight, aged, had a mask on, changed my hairstyle and its color AND remarried and changed my name. I did not recognize her because of her hat and mask (and 20 years!)

As we chatted, she shared that her best friend had passed away four years ago. I was introduced to her by her best friend, an artist I painted with at a printmaking studio. In fact – and even more uncanny, her best friend was the first person I ever plein air painted with!

What is the chance I would be at the gallery, after the show, at the exact time when she and her daughter came in, that I had the courage to mention it was my work I thought she was looking for, and that I was standing there when the gallery manager asked her if she’d like to sign up for their email list? What was the chance her mom would be with her and her email would include her last name? Honestly, it just can’t be chance. It has to be heaven-sent from an angel. One of my artist friends commented that she loves Angels, especially the “Art Angels” and I couldn’t agree more.