No regrets

Since I had gotten my "feet wet" copying off of photographs I wanted to do something different and pull something from my head.  I have always been drawn to chiaroscuro art. When I was younger there was a 3'x1' painting that hung in the corner in St. Louis art museum amoung huge works of art.  It was my favorite painting and it was the first place I went to. I love how the lights and darks play off each other. So much feeling is expressed in this painting. Not just subject matter but in the monotone colors. It gives me chills.

St. Francis Contemplating a Skull

Francisco de Zurbaran

I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to paint at first but something was nagging at me. Finally, I had a clear image in my head.  The painting above was an influence as well as other things that drive me. This girl is no one I know but someone that I can feel for. She came to life on the canvas and spoke of sadness but hope of moving on. Mourning over the loss of a loved one, but finally moving on too. Where memories stay vividly alive in sorrow, but also where you can start living life again.

"No Regrets"

11x14"

Acrylic on stretched canvas

A beloved pet.

A "facebook friend" of mine contacted me after seeing some of my work to see if I could paint a dog named "Mac". It was going to be a gift for her sister-in-law. "Mac" had to be put to rest after 10 wonderful years with that family. Of course knowing how much it hurts to lose a pet I gladly took the challenge to capture this pet for them.

"Mac"

8x10"

Acrylic on stretched canvas

CUSTOM ORDER- SOLD

Run, Spider, run.......

One beautiful warm Mississippi fall day the kids and I were out with the dogs. The two little weinie dogs were playing with our cat Spider. They all get along great. It was a game of chase and after a while the cat was up the tree. I snapped a picture with my phone because it was so cute. The picture didn't turn out to good as a photograph but it immediately came to mind composition-wise when I was thinking of my next painting. This is the end result:

"Narrow Escape"

11x14"

Acrylic on canvas board panel

Can you say Moo?

So after I did my sweet doggie I was asked to paint a cow for a fundraiser. It benefited the local 4H and FFA clubs.  I decided  "Why not?" Here is the outcome:

"Red Brangus"

11x14"

Acrylic on stretch canvas

SOLD- auction

Rediscovering myself in art.

Many years back before I was well into marriage and kids I was an artist. I went to art school and was emersed into the art community. I finished my Associates in Fine Arts and moved on to my BFA. During that time though I met my husband and followed new dreams. Soon kids came, 4 of them, and art was something I appreciated but never found time for. Then this past Christmas (2010) my husband bought me the most awesome gift. A paint set complete with easel. He told me to not make excuses and find time to paint. I pondered for a while on what to paint but one picture kept calling me to it. It was one of our beloved dog we had to put down the day before Thanksgiving the previous year (2009).  So one night around midnight I grabbed a pencil, did a rough stetch, and started layering on paint. I was quite nervous because it had been about 13 yrs since I painted but 2 hours later I was pleased with the outcome.

"Addison"

Acrylic on stretched canvas

11x14