The White Cat – This was the first painting Rosemary painted after the death of her brother John, who had been an avid traveler with a deep love for Asian countries.  One of the gifts he gave her from his travels was an embroidery on silk of a cat.  The orange kimono fabric in the painting was also a gift.  Rosemary used the fabric to make a jacket which she treasured and wore for many years.

Inside / Outside – The Great Wall and a replica of an ancient Chinese horse sculpture represent John’s many trips to China.  John actually watched as the artisans painted the designs on the inside of the snuff bottles using tiny paint brushes, and he called them inside / outside bottles.  Knowing how much Rosemary loved art, he brought some back and gave them to her.

Loss and Hope (John) – Over time, John’s many trips to Asian countries inspired in Rosemary a similar interest in Asian art.  A red shawl she purchased, with an embroidered crane, forms the back drop for this commemorative painting.

Last Year My Brother Went Around the World Eight Times – Rosemary talked with her brother John when he was dying.  She remembers a conversation about his travels in which she was telling him, he must have circled the world several times.  He said, “It’s funny you mention that.  I was just thinking I must have gone around the world eight times last year.”  The painting shows John dressed in a business suit carrying his attaché case, flying over some of the many places his visited in his lifetime.

Johnny Boy’s Day – John’s love of Japan and fishing is celebrated in this painting.  The top of painting shows Boy’s Day holiday which is celebrated, in Japan, on May 5^th each year with Koibori, carp-shaped wind socks.  The middle of the painting shows the McLoughlin children at one for their favorite fishing holes.

Epona Takes Bill & Phil Home – Epona a beautiful white horse goddess, carries Bill and Phil (Rosemary’s cat) to Tir Na Nog the Celtic otherworld.  Conversations with Rosemary’s brother Bill were the source of inspiration for this painting.  When he was dying Bill would say, “Epona is coming to take your little cat home to Tir Na Nog.” In the painting, several family members are shown welcoming Bill and Phil as they arrive, in style. In the background sea creatures joyfully splash as they greet the sailor (and Phil).  The little girl in the painting is Gigi, who also died while Rosemary was working on the painting.

Caitlin & The Storyteller – Bill was a natural teller of stories, who could stretch the truth a bit for the sake of a good story.  In this painting he is dressed as an Irish story teller (a traveling tinker) telling a traditional Irish tale while a child listens with rapt attention.  The child in the painting is based on Bill’s granddaughter, Caitlin.  The orange tabby cat in the corner is Rosemary’s cat, Phil.

Loss & Hope (Bill) – Bill loved Ireland, in this commemorative painting the Celtic crane on his urn represents his love of everything Irish.  Like his father before him, Bill was a Coast Guard sailor.  The seahorse in the corner represents the long-standing history between sailors and seahorses, which were believed to be good luck and to provide protection from drowning. Ancient Europeans also believed it was seahorses that carried dead sailors to Neptune, in the underworld, giving them safe passage and protection.  The jade green elephants were collected by Mr. McLoughlin on one of his many trips abroad.