I got a text message from Carol Gulley late this afternoon, she said Ed had decided to paint on glass this morning, and she was wondering if there was such a thing as acryllic paint, and did I know where to get it.

I realized that I feel the need to respond very quickly to any request by Ed or on his behalf, and for obvious  reasons. I wanted to get them there quickly.

I called Jay’s Art Supply store in Bennington and asked them if they would be open  until 5 – Bennington is about 40 minutes away from us – and did they have any acrylic paint?  They said they would be open, and yes, they had acrylic paint made for painting on glass surfaces.

Jay and Joan  Zwynenberg, the owners of Jay’s,  have been unfailingly helpful, Jay has looked at Ed’s work on my blog and helped me choose the right paints and brushes and paper for him to work with.

I’ve gotten all of Ed’s art supplies there this week – colored pencils, sketchbooks, palettes and an easel – and they are aware of Ed and his painting and are  following his story. They could not be more supportive. They said they would make sure to be open until I arrived.

I got a big back full of acrylic paints, sketchbooks and tubes and brushes and rushed over to the Gulley farm, Bejosh Farm.  Ed heard me – he was sleeping –  he asked Carol to help him sit up. Ed has asked his family to wake him up whenever I come.

He looked weak to me,  his face was drooping, he said he was fine. Carol brought him some vases. We went to work, he painted and Carol and I took turns holding the paint tubes and pens and capping and uncapping them.

Ed’s movements are confined to his right arm essentially, now, and to moving his head. I saw him summon his strength to paint and he did two vases, one, above, called “chicken” that he asked me to sell, and he made another glass painting for Carol.

it is wrenching to watch Ed work with only one hand, someone has to hand him the brushes, cap and un cap them, hand him another color to paint with. He now asks Carol to sign the sketches and vases and jars. He is in full control of the art itself, painting confidently and clearly. He did some of his best work today, under the worst possible circumstances.

There is a lesson in that.

It is a powerful thing to watch Carol during this time, she has  absolutely dedicated herself to making Ed comfortable and  giving him whatever he needs and wants. She does so with great gentleness and love, it is a remarkable thing to see the bond between these two farmers.

“Chickens” is quite lovely, I think, and Ed really rose to the occasion while painting it. He also wanted to do a video, which we did. This creative work excites  him and focuses him, the artist wants to keep going. If nobody wants it, I might buy it.

So I am putting the vase up for sale for $100 plus shipping, the same price as his sketches. The first person to e-mail me – [email protected] –  will get the vase, and I will notify you and send payment details. I suspect there will be more glass vases tomorrow. I will be there to help Ed paint them, and if he wishes, to sell them.

All the money goes to the Gulley’s, of course. The acrylic paint really worked on the vase and  the other glass jars Ed is working with. The more and better tools Ed has, the better his work, and it is getting more and more colorful and confident.

Working on the “Chicken” and Carol’s piece exhausted Ed, we had to help him lie down and go to sleep. I gave him a hug and we held one another’s hand for a bit.