Captive Audience II

Omigoodness...I cannot believe I have finally signed this painting as being complete. It has been really a project with a purpose and a history. I've done two other paintings of this pose and after completing the painting for her uncle in 2010, I decided that one day I would do one for myself. Captive Audience II - although showing the same little girl pose, she is now soon to be seven. The story behind the puppies is actually pretty amazing. Her mom fostered an abandoned mama Labrador from the shelter who had just given birth to seven puppies. The puppies were so brand new that their eyes were still closed. The plan was that my granddaughter and her brother would help socialize the puppies when it was time. My granddaughter's whole life at that time centered on the puppies and the need to socialize them. The whole family was commended on what a wonderful job they had done on those puppies. A vet who saw to one of the adopted puppies stated that he had not seen a puppy that young to be so well socialized. When it was time to let the puppies go to new homes, you can be assured that the tears did flow. The two puppies closer in are now part of the family - Piglet and Milkshake. Shiver, the third puppy in the back has gone to his new home. What I wanted to show here was a treasured moment in life.

Let me go back in time, starting with 2010 when her uncle commissioned the same pose but with specifics, like that exact color green ???

In 2008 I did the first of three paintings of this pose of my little granddaughter - she was about 3-1/2 at the time and I entitled it Captive Audience. Some may remember this particular painting.

For me, it was a realization of how far I've come in my painting skills since 2008.

One of My Diversions

I am so sorry my blog readers, hope you haven't given up on me. I just realized that it has been a while since I posted anything on this blog. I think it has been since late January and here it is mid-March. I could make all kinds of excuses and I do have a few, all legitimate and believable.

For instance; here's one:

My sweet little princess granddaughter. She had just bought a new "princess" dress and rushed over to show it to me. (Notice her very chic boots and tights.) Of course I had to take a picture. She has been the subject of a few of my paintings and after taking her picture in her new dress, she said that maybe this would make a good painting. She is precious. Her mother tries to write down all of the cute things she says and just recently posted on Facebook. "Ellie put on her new dress and I told her she looked like a princess to which she replied, I know and you are the queen and God is the King of Kings.'" She is 5-1/2 years old.


This is a painting I was commissioned to do of her for her uncle from a snapshot taken about 2-1/2 years ago. She knew she was a princess then also.

I do have a painting sitting on my easel in an unfinished state, but coming along very well; however I must admit that it has been in progress for longer than usual. Between making my grandchildren priority whenever they want to visit or have "art class," keeping up with my Bible studies, writing the newsletter for my "more mature" adult group, and preparing to teach my Sunday School Class...my painting has taken a back seat. I'm telling myself right now that when I'm done with this posting I will paint (fingers crossed).

Still on the Easel

Quite a while ago my daughter-in-law handed me a 4x6 snapshot of my granddaughter Ellie that she had taken. She asked me if I would paint it when I had the time as it was one of her favorite photos of Ellie. Well, I finally got around to it and am glad that I did. This shot was taken about a year ago and is so typical of Ellie. She is growing up so fast and we may never see her in this situation again, so am glad that not only was it captured in photo, but on canvas as well. Yesterday we celebrated her fifth birthday...can't believe that she's there already.



I have not signed it yet, so it is still considered a WIP (work in progress) if anyone has a critique.

Also, maybe of interest is the fact that I have a new computer which was loaded with Windows 7. I know it is suppose to be an easier operating system, and anything would be better than what I previously had...but I knew my previous operating system so much better than this one. I'll learn though. Anyway, that's why the picture is not cropped - I don't know how to do it, yet.

Thank you so much for visiting. Talk to you next time.