Evelyn and Lydia

Evelyn and Lydia were our neighbors for 1 year.  These Blue eyed beauties moved back to Massachusetts last fall and we miss them dearly.  I asked to paint their portraits over the winter, never did I imagine it would take me this long.  Trying to study my reference photos and memories to bring out Evelyn's elegance and Lydia's determination was exceedingly difficult with out the real thing in front of me. It was fun to have all those cozy mornings in the studio with the snow outside my window.  I am grateful to be able to follow my heart and create.   

Practicing my Craft

 I like painting people, trying to capture someone's true character is so challenging and very fun.  With the exception of my husband and children I feel on the outskirts with people, some how separated and never really belonging. I think I like to paint people as a way to deal with my feelings of isolation.  Maybe I am trying to find a connection with the human race by studying them.  These portraits were painted from life each was painted in roughly two and a half hours. In my next post I will reveal a couple children's portraits that I have toiled with for over 6 months.  I am finally ready to call them done..  Thank you for visiting.

Painting people

Oil on linen 11 x 14 

Portraiture has been my muse of late.  I feel lucky to have been able to make it out to a couple sessions of long poses.  I have been experimenting with different grounds and underpainting colors.  The above painting was painted on oil primed linen with transparent red oxide as the block in color.  Contrast this with the next painting which was painted on an inexpensive canvas panel utilizing raw umber as a block in color.

Oil on Canvas 11 x 14

There was some other factors complicating this experiment.  When painting on the canvas my canvas and palette were in ver low light I was barely able to discern the colors I was mixing, and when painting on the linen I forgot my medium at home..

I think I have decided not to bother with the inexpensive canvas panels anymore the paint handling is so different and not nearly as satisfying as on oil primed linen.  The ability to wipe back and the feel on the brush is worth the cost.  I do have some higher grade Canvas I will try out at a later date.

Pastel Pencil on paper

 Last but not least a sketch of my beautiful girl.  She doesn't stay still long enough so I sketched from a photo.  I like the feel of the pastel on paper.  

Scotland!

Oil on Panel 6 x 8

I had the pleasure of being invited to a beautifully unique riverfront home this last weekend. The home belongs to Author Cole Williams and her husband.  I arrived early and instantly realized this was a place I would need to come back to in the late afternoon.  I thought I would want to paint the river but after visiting I was inspired by the Unique home and grounds which face west.  I did manage to do a study of the edge of the property playfully referred to as Scotland for its lush green vegetation rambling over a stone wall and stairs. Hopefully I can make it back again soon.

Edina Art Center's Members Juried Show

I Am excited to have the portrait of my daughter accepted into the 

Edina Art Center's Members Juried Show.  

The exhibit will be up through October 28th.  

Come and visit and Check out all the great work on display.

I am only at the beginning of learning this craft just scraping at the surface, but I hope viewers can feel the love in this portrait.  We choose to honor our Children's Korean heritage through following the First Birthday traditions. I tried to capture her traditional hanbok along with her very serious expression she often wore at this age.

Zinnia in the heat

6 x 8 Oil on Linen Panel

Zinnias hold a few memories for me such as my Mother's Garden, a late Neighbor's peace offering, and the State fair.  They stand proud and stiffly in the late August heat and the blooms last for an eternity.  I am glade I took some time to paint this one.  

Time of transitions

6 x 8 oil on Board

 I had the gut wrenching expierence of sending my sweet, creative, intelligent playmate and daughter off to kindergarten.   Thankfully it has been harder on me then on her.  I am proud and happy to see her growing into her own person.   In between the sobbing I managed to do some painting.  The Bee Balm went crazy this year in my garden.  I am not sure I did it justice but I tried to capture the way it glistened in the morning.  

12 x 16  oil on Linen Panel

  I painted this meadow a couple of times while on vacation in August.   I hope to make a larger piece utilizing the plein air paintings as reference. 

8 x 10 Oil on Linen Panel