Some of the greatest gifts come as a genuine surprise. It knocks us off your feet and takes our breath away. We often times want to share these gifts with the people that we love, people that we see and care about. In 2019 covid hit our country very hard our cities were shook and our neighborhoods were tested. People of this great land, had to find a different way of doing things. We needed to find something to get us through. Something to encourage other people. Something to tell our spirit don't quit because we're stronger together. During a simple conference call I doodled a dog. I thought we're on lockdown anyway so I ordered a set colored pencils to fill the time. This discovery turned into a beautiful gift at the start of the second lockdown. I discovered just weeks later I had to have major back surgery. I so desperately wanted to do something just in case I didn't make it. I wanted to have a gift, something to leave my family and my husband. I had an image of roseses this was the most beautiful thing I could find. I drew a picture of the roses that my husband gave me for our anniversary before my surgery and a portrait of my mother's birthday. I was truly scared and frightened. Perhaps I wouldn't make it or perhaps never walk. Our country was in the middle of covid and I wanted something precious to give as a gift. 3 months after my surgery with 27 staples in my back I painfully started my second set of roses. I was so thankful for the gift of life that I had. This is how it started, my art is my gift of thankfulness and I'm so happy to share it with you. Diana Carrol Coloured pencial artist...