Alyssa

This is one of the pieces on display at Classic Center Exhibition. 'Alyssa' is 11''x14'' in oil on linen. I enjoyed painting this quiet moment. I like the warmth of her ears in the sea of cools. A portrait without a face can be a refreshing approach every once in awhile. It helps me to remember the interconnectedness of all my subjects and see that the portrayal of a person, in this instance, also includes a drapery study, a still life and an assessment of color and temperature. However, somehow the inclusion of a face can sometimes be a game changer and command too much attention in relation to the rest of the painting.

I have three paintings on display at the Classic Center in Athens, GA for the next few months. 'Taormina Vendor', a portrait of an Sicilian street vendor, is in Lyndon House's permanent collection which is on exhibit. Then two other more recent paintings are included in the show as well. I will post images, but go see them in person along with some other wonderful work!

Victoria

I have been missing drawing lately. Though my hand has been busy,  I haven't had/made time for my first true love art-wise. So, I dug up this drawing from open studio to inspire myself and others to return to the fundamentals. I'm a firm believer that those drawing skills must be honed in order to do all the other fun stuff like painting, sculpting, etc. Happy Friday! Happy Creating!

Bentley

Bentley's head and shoulders portrait was such a fun work in process. Those incredible blue eyes rivaled old Frank Sinatra's himself. It ended up taking a touch of pthalo blue to get us there! Bentley's talented mom helped me in creating Lilla's birth announcement. She did the gorgeous calligraphy and I painted the flowers in watercolor.

White home

This house portrait of a well-loved Augusta abode was fun but a bit of a challenge with its great width. I incorporated more of the trees and lawn than I might have in another work in order to balance the strong horizontal.

Samuel

It took until the end of our time together for Samuel and I to find the "magic" needed for this portrait. In the final few photos, it all came together and we had just what we needed for the lighting, relaxed feel and pose. One of my favorites!   

Approaching storm

Approaching storm, 15in. x 30in., oil 

This landscape depicts a summer thunderstorm fast approaching along the Intracoastal waterway in South Carolina. It was such a dramatic sight in person, I aimed to relay that drama in the paint application, scale and color selection for the painting.

Eli

This portrait takes the prize for the most adventuresome photo shoot award. Around a lake, over a bridge, climbed down a bank, balanced upon a rickety dock, all for some portrait-perfect photo references of two of the most cooperative and well-mannered young men with whom I've ever worked! Eli, 20in. x 24in., oil on linen

Summer play

As summer's end so quickly approaches and school bells start to ring again, this carefree scene of children at play on the beach is a memory their parents wanted to hold onto year round. Such a happy painting to do!

Kinsey home

This charming abode is in Charlotte, NC and brought it's proud owners great joy while they lived there. Now in Augusta, it was nice to be able to paint them a remembrance of where they spent their newlywed days. It is 11in. x14in, pen and watercolor.