This book is to honor my father, Curtis Bertrand (1920-2000), and his oil paintings. The photo of my father on the front cover was taken at the height of his artistic life. He created beautiful masterpieces during this time, around 1986, when he was age 66. What's amazing is he didn't start taking art classes until 1982, after he retired. He painted for the fun of it, not to make money, but to see the expression on the faces of his family when he gave us a painting. When he handed me the painting named Cypress Solitude, I was in awe. My jaw dropped! It was the most beautiful sight! He said, "I painted this for you to hang in your home." What love he had for us!