Maria Bennett Hock - self portrait

Maria - February 2014

9 x 12

Oil on Raymar Panel

My version of the selfie takes a bit longer than the nano-second it takes to click a camera on a phone.  I have been wanting to work from life more and find that I am usually the only one here...so I paint self-portraits.  I have difficulty seeing myself and my canvas without wearing my glasses...so all my self portraits have my glasses slipped down my nose a bit.  

I think it was important for me to do this self portrait because my last one was so angst-filled!  I needed to do an "I'm OK" self portrait.  

Now I can concentrate on getting some paintings done...now that I am all warmed up!  

My Hero - My Pepere

My Hero - My Pepere

16 x 20

Oil on Raymar panel

There is nothing more comforting than being in safe in the arms of someone you know will protect you at all cost and who loves you unconditionally.  This is a portrait of unconditional love.  

One of my artistic goals is to paint with more spontaneity.  I love the loose look of paint that appears to be randomly splashed on the canvas.  What I have learned through the years is that the look of spontaneity comes with practice.  It sounds like an oxymoron...controlled spontaneity...but it is what strive to achieve.  

My Hero - Daddy is home

My Hero - Daddy is Home

16 x 20

Oil on Raymar Panel

Sketch for larger piece/NFS

While visiting my son and his wife on a military base last summer I was fortunate to catch some touching moments between some military members and their families.  This is one such moment.  This dad had just gotten home from work and I could feel the love as he hugged his daughters.  I did this quick sketch in anticipation of doing a larger piece using some or all of these figures.  

The look the youngest daughter is giving her father is the one that completely stole my heart.  Not only do I love the feeling it gives me, as an artist I love the angle of her head and the lines in her jaw and neck.  Such a beautiful angle.