Work in progress: Almost done!

I am almost done - just a few little touches are still missing, and I still need to sign the painting.

I love you, Sweet girl! 16x20

I will have prints available in my Etsy shop by the end of this month.

From a photo to a painting

Several friends and clients have asked me lately if I would mind posting a photo that I painted from alongside the resulting painting. As most of you know by now, my goal is never to create a perfect semblance of a photo - I create what I would describe as a children's book illustration version of a child.

Here is an example of a photo sent to me by my client, and the painting I created for her. She asked for a Bible verse reference to be included, along with the little girl's name.

Some clients ask me to paint with certain colors, so as to match the color scheme of the room they plan to hang the painting in. Others leave color choice completely up to me. I am fine with both.

The photo of Sierra was posted with the permission of the photographer, as well as her mother. 

Work in Progress - excerpt of a Mother and Daughter portrait

These last weeks have been crazy-busy... but I really am working hard! Just to show you that I'm not being completely lazy, here's a little excerpt preview of the 16x20 portrait I'm working on right now.

These bigger, more detailed paintings usually take me several weeks, since I under-paint them with so many different colors (it's currently in the "purple and gold"-stage, as you can see.

 This painting is a new experience for me, since I'm painting it on so-called Aqua-board. This is in essence a layer of clay that has been sprayed onto a board. It's slick, and takes water (and color) very differently from what I'm used to. I am still trying to decide whether I love or hate painting on aqua board...

(oh, and the weird shiny blob in the top left corner won't stay shiny, i just painted protective misket over it so that I don't paint over the pink flower with the darker hair color)

Custom 9x9 portrait for Liza

Yesterday evening I finished the final painting of a set of 9 cousins!

Don't you love that tooth gap?! Custom 9x9 painting

I think this one is one of my favorites so far.

"Sweet Dreams" 12x15 watercolor

I am almost done with another painting!

This painting is inspired by Brenda's photograph - thank you for letting me paint from it!

"Sweet Dreams"

"First Day Home" - 15x19 watercolor

It has been so long since I last posted - sorry! Life has been crazy with house guests, a family trip to my folks' house, and more house guests.

I have been working really hard on several larger pieces, as well as several custom paintings. This one still needs some small tweaks, but is mostly finished. It is a large version of my "I'll Protect You" painting, and I've named it "First Day Home." I wanted to capture the love and promise of protection from the Mom, as well as the little girl's mixed feelings of wanting to be snuggled and loved, but also still being really darn afraid.  

First Day Home 15x19

This painting comes with a cool story. As some of you remember, I painted "I'll Protect You" as part of my Everyday Art Project last year:

In addition to selling prints of the little painting, I also sent free ones to a few of the families in our agency who had been waiting at #1 for a long time. Just a week after I sent one of the Mommas a print, her family got a referral for their daughter... and she looked so much like my little painting!

I was thrilled and honored to have been able to bless and encourage this family with my art... not even knowing how it would touch their hearts!

Once sweet Baby O was home, her Momma sent me a picture of herself posed with Baby O in the same way as the "I'll Protect You" painting. The picture she sent me is the photo that I painted from when I created "First Day Home."

Prints will be available in my Etsy shop in a couple of weeks.

Custom 5x7 - Princesses in the Mirror

I recently finished a really fun little custom piece! This painting goes with a set of wonderful rhymes about a mother and daughter that my client's husband wrote.

Mommy and Me

Flamenco Dancer - 15x22 watercolor

Here is the Flamenco Dancer whom I finished painting yesterday. I challenged myself to paint with soft edges, while at the same time staying precise. I wanted the dancer's dress to look like it is really swooping!

15x22 inch Flamenco Dancer

This painting is for sale in my Etsy shop HERE.

I see Africa - 12x16 watercolor

A client recently asked me to paint a much larger version of my ACEO-sized African Eye painting. I decided to add the African continent into the reflection!

I see you - 12x16 inches

Do YOU see Africa?

Done! "Little Friends" 22x22 inches

I know it has been a while since I last posted... in part this is due to finishing my big gardening/landscaping project in the front yard. In part this is because I have been painting some custom pieces that I can't post online because they are gifts for people who also read my blog. In part this is because I've been working on some bigger "for fun" paintings! *Surprisingly* a 22x22 inch painting just takes longer than a 2.5x3.5 inch painting... who would have thought?! :o)

Little Friends - 22x22 inches