Years Later, A Change of Location

This commission posed a unique challenge. Usually I take the photographs from which I work. In this case, I was asked to use photos taken by the family years prior, when the children were younger. Add to that, the photographs were taken in two separate locations, but the finished paintings were to hang side by side.

As a solution, I chose to change the background in the boy's painting. I think it worked!

A Formal Portrait for Grandma

This is one of the more formal portraits I have been commissioned to paint. The children are posed in their grandmother's garden. The grounds were so beautiful that I couldn't help but take lots of photographs in several settings. These three children were so cooperative, and patient with me.  After spending a little time with them, it was quite evident little sister was adored by her brothers - the center of their attention. So it was fitting that the final photograph selected for the portrait featured her front and center.

Sag Harbor Front Porch

                                                   SOLD
   This is the painting I am submitting to this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge.  The theme is "home," and the proceeds from the sale of submitted paintings will go to the Japanese relief efforts. I will be donating to the Japanese Red Cross Society.
    This sunny little front porch is on Main Street in Sag Harbor, NY, the town I am lucky enough to call home. Established in the early 1600s, Sag Harbor was formerly a whaling town. Its streets are lined with beautiful old houses, each with its own unique personality. I was drawn by the creaky old stairs leading up to the sunlit door on this one. So inviting, so welcoming! Feels so much like home. If you would like to bid on this painting, or on any of the others submitted to the challenge, go to: www.dailypaintworks.com. Click on "Challenges" and then on the "Japan Challenge."

Ship Mates

                                                         SOLD
This is a pair of boats I spotted tied up together just off the shore of Shelter Island. It was late in the day and the sun played so beautifully on their glistening white bows. I grabbed my camera and snapped a photo. So glad I did, because I am very happy with this little painting. I think I nailed the movement of the waves and the warmth of the sun and reflections on the boats. They almost look like an old married couple, don't they?                                                                    

The Family Structure

My commissioned portraits capture the children's image and often tell a story about their family. In this painting, the location is the north shore of Long Island, the place where the family has summered for generations. The coastline is very rocky. As a result, this family's favorite beach activity is creating free standing sculptures by stacking the rocks.

These boys learned from their dad, who learned from his dad, and so on. An unexpected pleasure of my work is getting to know the families. It warms my heart to find family after family built on rock solid love for each other and their traditions.

Mr. and Mrs.

 I call this little painting Mrs. Pitcher... so  feminine! She is one of my two entries (see her mate below) to this week's painting challenge. The challenge was to mix a new color each time I put down a different stroke. This forced me to have to really focus on value and temperature, and to paint with real precision.

Here's Mister Mister... my second entry to this  challenge. I did two because the challenge was so enlightening.  So often I fuss with my paintings to the point where I overwork them and they seem to loose some of their vitality. This challenge - using a new color for each stroke - helped keep the paintings looking fresh and spontaneous.  I love it when I learn a new trick!