Whispers

Whispers

36 x 24

Oil on Canvas

Recently I hosted a "model  party"!  It was such fun.  I invited 5 women over to participate.  I was a bit nervous having not done this before and not really knowing the models well.  Some I had just met, two I had never met and two I knew but had only brief encounters with.  I just had a feeling they would all get along and had a feeling that they were up for some fun. 

I welcomed each of the ladies and had prepared some light snacks, wine and non-alcoholic beverages for them to socialize and enjoy while the photo shoot took place.  I thought a relaxed atmosphere would lend itself to helping everyone get acquainted and relax.   I am fortunate to have traveled to Japan to visit my dear friend Carrie Roets Waller...accompanied by my travel buddy Debra Kierce...while there I was able to pick up some fabulous kimonos so I had a kimono for everyone.  They tried out different colors...I photographed them in two's three's and four's and the grand finale of all 5 in their luxurious fabrics.  It was such a fun experiment for me and, I think, for them too as I got many offers to return for another photoshoot! 

This painting is of sisters...they are both young with fabulous, thick, curly hair.  Every thing I suggested they were enthusiastic about.  They were so natural and the connection between them is undeniable. 

I do paint from photographs, obviously, but I paint from life as often as I can.  When using the photos I often refer to life for particular body part.  I will check out my hands in a mirror to see joints and  shadows.  If I need to see someone holding hands or a position I cannot see while I am painting I ask neighbors or friends to come over and let me see how a certain angle looks in "real life".  Studying anatomy has also been a great resource.  If a photo is fuzzy or out of focus I know what a body part usually looks like so I can put together things that are missing or hard to see.  Most of my work is a conglomeration of photos, life and what is in my mind. 

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.  

My Sister's Secret - revisited

My Sister's Secret

18 x 24

Oil on Canvas

This is a piece named " My Sister's Secret"  It is my two lovely grand nieces telling secrets.  I painted it a couple of years ago and it has always been one of my favorite painting...though there were things about it that I wasn't quite happy with.  I remember painting it and not knowing what to do with the background.  Then I took a class from Carolyn Anderson who said if you don't have the background decided then you do not have a good vision for your piece.  That is extreme paraphrasing...but it is one of the main things I took from her class.  I try to have a complete vision before I begin any piece now.  So with that in mind I decided to revisit this painting and see if I could complete my vision.  I really like the placement of the girls but wanted to work on the background and the clothes a bit.  I darkened the background with a deeper color using ultramarine blue, raw sienna and some yellow ochre.  I love the rich tones and the loose edges on the left.  Then I saturated the color of the dresses with cadmium red and alizarin crimson shading with some ultramarine blue.  I love revisiting pieces and seeing how much I have learned.  It makes me hungry to learn more.  

Below is the piece as it was originally...

Row, Row, Row your boat!

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

6 x 6

Here they are….two of my favorite grand nieces on another great adventure.  I loved painting this one…it made me feel like I was in the boat with them…of course I would be the one rowing!  I also love the colorful life vests and cute sun hats.  It is just a compilation of everything I love!  I wonder what they did with their little brother Will???  

The Recital

The Recital

18 x 36

Oil on Canvas

$600

After working diligently on trying to reproduce Mary Cassatt's "Girl Arranging Her Hair" and being mindful of every brush stroke and exact colors I needed a respite!  I chose one of my loves...little ballerinas.  I scoured my source photos and found this one of a friends recital.  I love the body language of all the little ones and the looseness of the tutu's.  The light source was from above so I concentrated on the glow surrounding their hair and shoulders as well as a slight reflections in the polished floor. I decided to lose as many edges as I could...always a challenge for me...but I had great fun doing it.  How fun for me!

Playtime

Playtime

8 x 10

Oil on Raymar panel
$300.00

I am taking a break from my work at the National Gallery of Art and finishing up some small works that have been on my plate for some time.  These two little girls are the subjects of many of my paintings and I just love them.  Here they were visiting and playing so intently I just had to try to capture the mood in oil.  

And now playtime for me...off to my studio!

I AM the Flower Girl

I AM the Flower Girl

16 x 20

Oil in Raymar Panel

NFS

This little painting did not make the cut.  I brought it to hang in my featured artist show at the Workhouse Arts Center but when placing the groupings on the wall it just didn't fit comfortably into the show.  So...though I do love the gesture of the little girl...she remained at home.  She is the grand-daughter of a relative and will reside in her grandma's home instead.  What drew me to the piece is her attitude. She just exudes an "I'm in charge" attitude.  

The show will be hung until July 1st...I cannot believe in two short weeks I will be bringing the wedding paintings home!  It has been a wonderful experience.  

Now I begin new adventures!  Stay tuned...

Child's Play - Fun and Games

"Child's Play"

12 x 24

Oil on Canvas

$250.00

Remember when you would get together with your best friend and play...laugh and giggle at the silliest things?

I am sure I heard laughter and giggles while I painted this.  It was probably me remembering good times playing childhood games with friends.  

It is still that way today...laughing and playing with my best friends...though the games don’t involve playing “bicycle” much any more.  

Now the Challenge...I DO love challenges...send me a picture of yourself doing something wild and free that you used to love to do as a child.  Play hopscotch, jump rope, hide and seek...think of what used to make you very happy and just do it!  I will post the pictures on my blog.

I don't talk the talk without walking the walk so here I am ... with my trusty hula hoop!  I had my first hula hoop in California in the 50's...yikes!!!  I still love to play and it reminds me of carefree days in the California sunshine...

BTW...this is one that will NOT be reproduced on canvas!!!