A special custom piece - Birth Mother

This painting was a special assignment: a Momma asked me if I would be able to paint an illustration of her son's birth mother, going off of her description of the woman and a photo of her son.

I think it is so wonderful that a Momma would choose to honor her child's birth mother in this way!

Friday Artist Feature on Harmony's blog!

Harmony Pyper (a fellow artist, Etsian, and adoptive Momma) featured me and my art on her blog today.  Feel free to swing by there - you will find out a little more about my life, my background, my motivation and inspiration for painting, and you will even get to see my messy messy art corner.

Follow the link to Harmony's blog HERE.

Work in Progress - Kirsten

It has been a few days since I last posted. Right now I am working on a 12x16 painting of my youngest sister, Kirsten, playing the Cello. 

I still need to add in the dark shades and shadows, but I think this painting is coming along nicely.

Here's a detail-view of her face. 

Work in progress - Little Nursling

Look what I did yesterday evening. I haven't decided yet if I even like this painting... I may keep working on it, or I may abandon it and work on something else. I don't like the yellow highlights on the baby's face because they make him look jaundiced, but the pigment in the yellow paint is a dyeing pigment, so I can't lift it back off...

Little Nursling - 8.5"x8.5"

Work in progress - Makeda - DONE! (I think)

I think I am finally finished with this painting. 

I have added some highlights to her lips and nose, and have blended the shadows on the left side of her face a little more.

Here is a detail view of Makeda's face. I love how expressive her eyes and mouth have turned out. 

Ps: I worked on Makeda's eyes a little more, and am much happier with how they look now (Feb 19). NOW she really is done.