Mike

10x8 in. Oil on Linen Panel

You have seen this face before in my "Sage and the Sea."

This is the first of my Daily Faces series.  Nothing motivates me to paint more than human faces.  I look for the beauty in any face.  It is always there.  For the first of my Daily Faces, I have chosen my handsome husband.  It was fun putting the twinkle in his eye!  (Yes, I can hear the jokes already.)

My plan is to publish a book of Daily Faces, featuring friends, family, fellow artists, fellow choir members, neighbors...  I will offer the paintings for sale, and make the book available to order at a reasonable price.  

How I love painting people!

Sage and the Sea

20x16" Oil on Linen Panel
$1200

My husband.  I asked about 6 people what they thought would be a good title for this.  Five of them immediately said, "Old Man and the Sea!"  The other one said, "Earnest".  I thought about "Hemingway Thoughts," but settled on "Sage and the Sea."  Mike likes to give "sagely" advice, so I think he will like this title.  I painted this from a photograph taken while on a ferry boat traveling to Vancouver Island, British Columbia.  Mike served in the U.S. Navy for over twenty years, and has worked for the Navy since his retirement in the early 80's.  This painting will hang in the upcoming Quayside Gallery of Pensacola show themed "Light and Bright," beginning on March 26.

Wistful

Not For Sale

11x14" Oil On Stretched Linen

Another portrait of my mother.  I think she looks wistful.

I have three siblings, so there will have to be at least one more!  Perhaps I should change her dress.

Mirth

Not for sale.
14x11" Oil on Stretched Canvas

As I was painting "Yellow Roses", I received an email from my friend, Henry, who offered some friendly advice regarding my painting subjects:
                   "More faces,
                     Fewer vases."
Here you go, Henry . . .
About three years ago, I did a photo shoot with my mother.  She had been visiting from Dallas for a couple of weeks and was about to fly back home.   I sat Mom by a window with strong indirect light and proceeded to take pictures - about 40 in all.  Her expression changed according to the subject of our conversation.  She became sad when she spoke of my father, with whom she shared 50 years of marriage until he passed away a few years back.  My sister called in the middle of the shoot, and I put her on speaker phone while I continued snapping photos.  At the time, Mom was living with my sister.  Our conversation became friendly bantering about who was Mom's favorite daughter.  Of course, I was the favorite in that moment in time because I was treating her like a movie star, not to mention the two weeks of pampering, shopping, pedicures and such!  I painted this portrait from a photo that was taken during that conversation with my sister.  I will post it on http://dailypaintworks.com as part of the "Paint an Emotion Challenge".  My mother was 79 at the time and is now 82.  I knew I had captured her likeness when I saw the twinkle in her eyes!