#4- or should I say...14?

Once students saw my little easel tucked away in the back of the room, their questions about my art created an energy I cannot explain...but then, I had models! Lots of models!
"Will you paint me!?"
Sure!
"Can I keep it when you're finished?"
Nope. I can't have a missing #4 when I have my "100 Portraits" gallery show!
"Fair enough. When can I start!?"

Eric is a student of mine- an artist, a thinker. A real gem!
We had the funniest conversation while he sat for me...
He's the FIRST of my students to be painted, but he is painting #4 in this journey to 100.
He said..."so... it's like beIing #14."  (I laaauuughed...yep. first student, 4th in the 100...14.) I love it!


I'll post more when he is finished,  but for now...

a much needed break before.....

"My favorite color is orange.." in case I was wondering :) Thanks Eric!

#3- Bryanna

Bryanna is such a great spirit. She was a student at LWC recently, but has since decided to move on her journey elsewhere. I'm honored to have gotten to paint her because she has such a great personality.

I drove 2 hours south to paint her on a Tuesday night, easel in tow, and a mile from the location, I realize I left my entire box of oil colors at school. Ugh! I accepted this as a challenged, knowing I had a partial palette packed (the joys of aliteration), I made use of the left over colors to begin her portrait.

A nice growth happened with this portrait. I was able to really focus on painting shapes, and so far I'm pleased with it. I'm going back Saturday (and maybe) Sunday to finish before her big move! Good luck Bryanna! <3

#2- Casseroni

A long, long time ago (or so it seems!), I fell into one of the greatest friendships I'll ever make. Cassie and I met in Ceramics class in our undergraduate studies at Lindsey Wilson College. She wanted to drop the course, and thank goodness she didn't!  I've painted Cassie several times, and as this painting evolves I've noticed I used the same color combinations as an earlier painting of her (I'll see if I can find a picture of that one). Cassie has the face Gustav Klimt would have died to paint...but he died, so I got her!

One of my fondest memories painting Cassie was when she agreed to model for my painting class, and I made up a song about her that literally made her fall out of her pose and almost crash onto the floor!

To the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It"
Casseroni Macaroni Cheese and Rice
Casseroni Macaroni Cheese and Rice
Casseroni Macaroni don't confuse it with Balogna
Casseroni Macaroni Cheese and Rice...

Not quite finished, but it's getting there.

Cassie se ha completado!

100 portaits- #1

My life is crazy right now. So...why not make it crazier doing something that makes me so happy? I'm on a journey to find..something.  In my quest to find IT, I've decided to dedicate 2011-12 (an entire year) to painting 100 portraits of people I know, and consequently, love. 

#1 is obviously a portrait of my daughter, Hop. I must say this: I don't paint portraits of children, mostly because they don't sit still! I love painting from life, but I couldn't NOT paint this photograph of Hop in her big fuzzy winter hat and "Tink-bell jommies".