We Can Do It!

"We Can Do It"

20 x 24

Oil on Canvas

$1500.

Recently I met Stormy Knowles at the National Gallery of art while I was copying 

Beatrice Townsend by John Singer Sargent.  Stormy was chaperoning a group of school kids as they toured the Gallery.  She asked if I would be willing to donate a painting to raise funds for the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Man and Woman of the year Campaign.  While I limit the number of donations I offer per year...I decided that this would be a good cause that I am proud to be a part of.  When Stormy and her daughter arrived at my studio to pick up the painting she was wearing her military uniform.  I immediately asked her if she and her daughter would be willing to sit for me as part of my military life series.  I was thrilled when she not only said she would sit...she was enthusiastic about it.  

Stormy recently wrapped up the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Man and Woman of the year Campaign and not only met their goal but exceeded it!  She is a tireless fundraiser. 

I thought this painting was significant...it mimics the "We can do it" military campaign and depicts the determination it takes to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks.  Stormy is an amazing person and I am proud to know her.  

Honor Flight Salute - World War II Veteran

Honor Flight Salute - World War II

14 x 11

Oil on canvas panel

$650

Continuing my "Salute" series I am featuring a World War II veteran.  When I asked him to pose for me with a salute he got this stern look on his face like he really meant business.  He was in a wheel chair with an American flag attached to the back of his chair.  I am sure there will be a larger painting of this guy with his flag.  I think both compositions are perfect for this series.  

This project started in my mind featuring only World War II veterans.  Then, as I visited the World War II memorial and saw the vets from other wars...from other times I realized that the feeling I wanted to convey and the pride for their country and what they had accomplished was timeless.  So I have broadened my "Salute" Series and I welcome veterans...old and young...I ask them to salute and I am amazed by the way their demeanor brightens.  

So I continue...

Honor Flight Salute

"Honor Flight Salute"

12 x 12

Oil on Panel

$600

If you have never been to the National Mall in Washington DC to witness an Honor Flight you are missing an amazing event.  Honor Flights make sure Veterans get the chance to see the monuments erected in their honor.  Veterans come from all over the country at no personal expense.  An Honor Flight is arranged and executed totally by volunteers.  Pilots volunteer their time, airlines volunteer their aircraft, thousands of volunteers make sure veterans from our wars get to see the monuments and are recognized for their service.  It is truly a sight to see.  The Veterans are so proud of their service...there are handshakes, thank you's, and a wonderfully emotionally driven feeling throughout the area.  I love seeing these vets, so proud, so happy.  

Along with the veterans at the World War II memorial there are a group of swing dancers that spend their time dancing and entertaining.  They dance and make sure every vet is given attention with a twirl around the monument...a kiss on the cheek...or a handshake. 

With that in mind and my quest to paint scenes from military life I decided to do a series of paintings based on salutes from these veterans visiting the memorials.  This is my first piece.  He is a Korean War veteran and was very happy to offer a salute for my cause.  

To find out more about Honor Flights, or to help out, you can visit Honorflight.org.  

The Making of "The Adjustment"

The Adjustment

16 x 20

Oil on Raymar Panel

$1200

I recently posted this little ballerina adjusting her straps before a performance.  While going over my notes I realized I had taken pictures of each stage of my painting process.  I don't paint all my paintings this way but I would say a majority of them begin very similarly.  

Here I picked out the support that I thought would best suit the composition.  I knew I wanted the arms, body and part of the legs to be in the painting.  I blocked in the approximate composition for placement purposes.  I couldn't resist putting some darks and lights on the arms and that wonderful shadow on her back indicating the shoulder blade.  

I wanted to play with the tutu next.  I blocked in the darks and lights here.  I tried to mix a color of paint...then lay it down and leave it.  I am just indicating folds.  

The hair block in was next.  Again, I just concentrated on laying down color and leaving it.  No blending or noodling with the paint.  Strong, bold brush strokes.  Notice on my final version of this painting the hair is exactly as it is now.  I didn't touch it after my block in of lights and darks.  

While working on each section I have been revisiting the arms and making sure they are placed properly and the hands tugging on the straps of her tutu.  I lightly indicated the legs here.  My decision was...should I try to make the tights fit her legs properly...or make them oversized and a bit wrinkled.  The challenge is to make them interesting without making them a focal point.  

You can see I decided to go with slightly wrinkled tights.  I adjusted the hands some more and made sure the straps were raised to emphasize the adjustment.  I wanted the background to be subtle so I use a complimentary gray/green.  I also added a bit more detail to the dress.  

The Adjustment - Ballerina adjusting her straps

The Adjustment

16 x 20

Oil on Raymar Panel

$1200

One of the reasons I love to paint ballerinas so much is because of the freedom painting tutu gives me.  I begin by laying in darks and letting the skirt take shape.  Once the darks are all in I lay the medium colors in...adjusting as I go.  I never try to exactly mimic the tutu I am looking at...I take artistic license to let the paint flow and form the skirt.  Once I get a good shape I add some highlights to show off the shape of the skirt.  

In this particular painting the girl was not really playing with her straps.  When I started painting I thought it would tell a good story.  I imagine a little girl just getting her outfit on ready for her recital.  She nervously adjusts her straps while walking towards the stage.  I love that her tights were loose and baggy.  

It was just a fun piece to paint.  

Kaitlyn

This is a small 11 x 14 sketch of Kaitlyn.  She and her mom were kind enough to visit my studio and pose for me.  Stormy, Kaitlyn's mom, is in the Army...a 1st Sergeant.  I asked them to pose for my ongoing military life series.  Stormy brought her uniform so I could depict typical military scenes that were parts of my everyday life.  I expected Stormy to be easy to direct because she is a beauty pageant winner and very poised.  Kaitlyn was a delightful surprise.  She took direction well and has such thoughtful, soulful features.  I did this quick sketch to warm up for some larger pieces I am working on.  

Military Life Series

I have an ongoing series depicting scenes from military life.  As a military brat (which is the term lovingly used for children of military parents), military spouse and military mom I have extensive exposure to the military lifestyle…its trials and tribulations…its joys and adventures.  I have been compiling memories and stories from friends and family to capture these memories on canvas.  I paint from my heart and express emotion in my work.  I have the ideas, the memories, and the stories…what I lack are the models to depict these scenes.  Have a small group of neighbors that will pose for me setting up scenarios and portraying my memories.  Some I can paint from life and some I must photograph to work on my own.  I am always on the lookout for appropriate models to come and pose for me.  

I painted this as a representation of a family getting ready for deployment.  The father is going overseas for a number of months...up to a year.  It is not easy for families to endure these separations...but military families are tough.  

This piece shows a young child with his hand over his heart as they play taps at the end of the day.  At sundown, on a military installation, music is piped through a loudspeaker.  As soon as the music starts activity stops.  Everyone stands and either salutes or places their hand over their heart and faces the flag...if they can't see the flag they face the general direction... as a sign of respect for the lowering of the flag.  As soon as the music stops activity resumes.  

This is a fun piece.  I did that portrait of my son when he was deployed to Afghanistan.  It was shown at a local gallery. when my daughter in law visited she leaned over to give him a kiss.  I thought it was a perfect moment.  I did a painting of it that I gifted to my daughter in law.  

And now a favor!  If you have any stories of military experiences that you think will add to my series I would love to hear from you!  Please send stories and or pictures by commenting on this blog.  Of course if anyone lives nearby and would be kind enough to model...my door is always open and my schedule is flexible!