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22 Jul “The Grandmother Gift” selected for publication in Artistonish Magazine – MAY 2026

Posted at 03:50h in Blog by
Dear Friends, Fans, Patrons, Mentors, and Colleagues,
I am so excited to share that my original oil painting with accompanying poetry entitled, “The Grandmother Gift”, from my At Home in Chicago Oil Series, was selected for publication in the May 2026 Issue of Artistonish Magazine, a juried, global periodical. My work was ranked 13th out of 135 pieces by talented colleagues from all over the world also chosen to be published in this issue of the magazine. Below is the quote they printed with my painting. It made me feel especially proud that my Grandmothers who inspired the piece were each mentioned by name and will be in print for perpetuity as well as having an online presence in the digital version of the magazine.

“This 20 x 16 original oil depicts daffodils that remind me of my Granny Boone placed in a special vase given to me by my Gram Taylor. This work is in many ways a self portrait that describes how both of my beloved Grandmothers come together to make me who I am.”

 

“THE GRANDMOTHER GIFT”

AT HOME IN CHICAGO

An Oil Series intertwining the nesting of now with the many complex strands that brought me here to Chicago

20×16 Framed Oil on Canvas

Selected for Publication in Artistonish Magazine – May 2026

$2500

“The Grandmother Gift”

At Home in Chicago

Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas

Everything
That gave her strength
I inherited,
Along with her fears
And faults
I was given grace
And grit,
Because she lived
And learned
I am lavished
With her love,
Because her roots
Took hold
In granite
I can stand
Tall
On her firm foundation,
Because her hands
Were worn
With hard work
I know how to cultivate things
And clean things
And feed my family,
Because her voice
Rang high
Over the hollows and hills
Soprano from the south
Alto from the north
I can sing my truth in both registers,
Every time I stand on stage
Or hum a tune at the kitchen sink
She is with me,
Because her life was
An authentic expression
Her creative spirit also
Lives on
In the words I write
And canvases I paint
Even in the gardens I grow…
Rich soil is such a part of
My heritage
On both sides,
Contradictions too
As Union and Confederate Soldiers
Hebrews and Brethren
Cherokee and Europeans
Eventually held hands,
Because of her laughter
Through it all
I experienced joy
And learned how to heal
Through humor,
Because she suffered much
I know empathy
Gentleness
And compassion,
There are stories of shadow
That dance in her light
And darken the heart of her family
Even today
But whether from my mother’s side
Or my father’s
In her way
She overcame
All of it
So that I could too
That’s her gift to me
To all of us,
And though I pass
Her legacy
Through art
Rather than DNA
The flowers of her life
And mine
Ever bloom.

Rina Lucas – Staff & Palette

Granny Boone – Myrtle Ida Basham Boone

Gram Taylor – Betty Harpster Taylor – with Rina, Mama Jeanne, and Aunt Jo

Rina with husband John and their pups, Ariel and Eli

If you are interested in purchasing “The Grandmother Gift”, an original oil accompanied by poetry, please contact me at:

rina.r.lucas@gmail.com

‘The Grandmother Gift” has most recently been in an original multimedia show in June 2026 entitled “Lucas Life in Chicago – An Exhibit at BottlesUp!”:
You can also check out social media posts as well as other links to the magazine from Artistonish.

As always thank you for following my artistic journey! It’s been quite a ride, and I am grateful to all of you who have come along with me!

 

 

Artist Bio

Soprano Rina Lucas is known for her powerful instrument, effortless range, and musical versatility. Comfortable in multiple genres, she has performed as a soloist with the Charleston Symphony, with the Lowcountry Voices, during the televised Spotlight Awards, in her own multimedia Piccolo Spoleto productions in SC alongside pianist and composer Arshak Sirunyan, and in her original virtual and live shows at The Moss Center and the Floyd Center for the Arts in VA. In addition to her accomplishments as a vocalist, Rina is also a gifted poet and visual artist working in oils. All of her paintings, rich and diverse in subject and style, are accompanied by poetry and signed in Hebrew as a nod to her roots. She has been featured in numerous juried exhibitions along the East Coast, here in Chicago, and beyond. Her interdisciplinary work has also been recognized by Artistonish Magazine, Classical Singer Music Magazine, Medici International Music Competition, Music International Grand Prix, National Association of Teachers of Singing, and TERAVARNA. With a Bachelor of Science from James Madison University and a Master of Physical Therapy from Gannon University, Rina’s path to performance has been nontraditional, having turned to the arts full time in 2012 after a career as a Physical Therapist. Since that time, she has developed her talents with several excellent mentors including: Professors of Voice – Sandra Barnhardt, Patricia Clevenger, Dr. Jill Terhaar Lewis, and Ariana Wyatt, Artists – Michael Farrar, Z.L. Feng, Jonathan Green, and Terry Lyon, as well as the former Poet Laureate of Charleston, SC, Marcus Amaker. She owns Staff & Palette, her studio for paint, poetry, and voice in the Greater Chicago area where she has recently relocated with her husband John and their beloved pups, Ariel and Eli.

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