Children of the Rainbow - Family of God FINISHED!!

Omigoodness ... July 29, 2013 was my last posting - that was when I started laying in the color of the painting "Children of the Rainbow - Family of God."  This has proven to be quite an undertaking.

It started years ago while on vacation on the Big Island of Hawai'i with my sisters and their children and children's children - confused?  Anyhow, I took a picture of my nieces and nephews as they posed with a sea urchin that they retrieved from the ocean.  I developed the film and as I viewed the results that one picture said to me "these are children of the rainbow." The photo showed me  children from diverse ethnicity groups who were all of one family in the earthly sense - but also one family in the spiritual sense - the Family of God.  That was when I decided that someday I would paint a picture of the "children of the rainbow."

The painting reflects the event - and it truly is an event - getting 18 children together to take a group picture.  We have those who are so excited about being a part of it, those who would rather be somewhere else, those who dressed up for the affair and those who didn't.  Of course we have to have the cut-ups. Four generations are present in the painting.  The little blonde toddler with the boy's arms around her - that boy is her father.  Then the boy (blue shirt and tie) and the boy with arms around the toddler are brothers.  I am their mother in the pink dress with white flowers just above them.  I could explain each one, but that would take forever, just know they are all family.

This is where I started - the sketch.

Then the underpainting.

And here is the finished painting, almost seven months since starting...

Many changes made along the way - correcting and changing.  I am so glad it's done; however, I did see a few places that needed work.

Mahalo ke Akua!!  (Thank you God.)

Children of the Rainbow - Family of God

Many, many years ago while on vacation with my sisters and their children and their children's children (confused?) on the Big Island of Hawaii, I snapped a picture of my grandnieces and nephews.  After developing my photos and viewing the different races that came into play in those young faces the thought that came to mind was "Children of the Rainbow."  It was then that I decided someday I would do a painting of those children.  Below is my start.  Call me crazy, but I'm looking at it as individual little portraits.  There will be a lot more children in this painting than was in my photograph - in fact, I plan to fill the entire canvas, which is 21-3/4 x 27-3/4 with children's faces.  I intend to take my time with this piece and use photos of my children as well as my nieces and nephews when they were very young - now those children have children and grandchildren of their own.  It has taken me long enough to tackle this one.  I probably will not post for a while on this particular project, but I will post at a stage of much further progress.

I am a little anxious, but excited about doing this.  I could say that if it doesn't work out I can just "dump" the project, however, I'm keeping a positive attitude about it.  Wish me luck.

Ellie's Birthday Card

     Omigoodness - it has been a while since I posted anything and I apologize for being so delinquent about that. I have not been painting, but have been doing other things. For instance, those of you who follow my blog know that I also scrapbook and make cards. Well, I've combined cardmaking along with my art.
     Let me explain. My granddaughter Ellie is going to be 8 years old (I can't believe it and don't want to) next week - she knows I make cards and she does as well. She has learned to use my supplies and knows how to create and produce her own cards. Anyway, she came to me last week and asked me to make her a birthday card filled with all kinds of animals. So, she loving animals as she does and having her own animals I decided to create a birthday card with ALL of her animals wishing her a happy birthday. I did a "theater-type" card....  This view is the front and back of the card.

This view is when you first open the card - the theater. Yes, believe it or not she has 11 animals, of course they are family pets but she cares for them all and plays with them (of course not all at once) everyday. She calls them all by name and when she's out playing they (those that are around) will play with her. She does picnics with them, dresses them up and they endure it - at least some of them will. Five dogs, four cats, two pot-belly pigs - one grown and one "toddler." I've tried to portray them as close as I could considering I had to do them small and tried to show them relative in size.

Then you open another page - this is where the greeting goes.

This had to be the most complicated card I have ever done, but also it was the first time I did one of these "theater" cards - instructions were from YouTube. It took me a day+ to finish it. Although it was quite a project, I enjoyed doing it and I know my granddaughter will be SO surprised and will love it. Methinks it is time to do another in my series of "Women of the Bible." I've been away from the easel too long.

My Apologies

My apologies for not posting for such a long time...life has been hectic. For now enjoy this painting that I am about to work on. I thought I completed it about three years ago, but now that I look at it I see where much improvement is needed.

It is my granddaughter and I call it "Captive Audience."



I will try to be more timely in posting. I know, I know, I've said that before, but this time I'm really going to work on that.

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.

Kai - A Boy & His Ball (cont.)

Kai - A Boy and His Ball
16x20 oil

Sorry, I just realize it has been about ten days since I posted progress on this piece...long overdue. Unfortunately the photo is not true to color and I am disappointed in it; however, that is usually the case...a photo never does the real thing justice. A lot more yet to do on it, but other than the fact that I think more dark/light contrast is needed and he seems to appear older, I am pleased with it.

I'm not particularly fond of the title so I'm open to suggestions. Usually, I come up with a title at the onset of a piece or when I am in the actual creating/painting, but this time I can't get past my "temporary" title. That could mean that this is what the title should be...???

I live next door to my son and his family so quite often my mo'opuna will drop by for visits. While doing this painting Kai would pop in, look at the painting and make comment when something didn't look quite right or ask "why" I did such and such a particular way. For instance, he looked sad in the painting and I couldn't figure out what was wrong. Kai walks in and says, "Tutu, my mouth is too low." That was exactly what was wrong...the downward curve of his mouth was too downturned. When that adjustment was made, he looked pensive not sad...just as I was trying to achieve. Too many times adults don't listen to what the children have to say and if we took the time to listen, it is amazing what we can learn from them.

Aloha till next time.

> There are 3 ways you can make a real difference to this blog.
1. Share the link to this site with just one other artist, art collector, or someone who would be interested in myths and legends of Hawai'i.
2. Post your thoughts in the Comments section.
3. Email your ideas and/or suggestions on what you would like to read/see more of to lokeforrest@comcast.net

Yay...I want to paint

After three weeks of not really being inspired or motivated to paint, I have finally "felt" like getting back into it. I'm pretty sure it has been because I haven't been feeling up to par and just lacked the enthusiasm. From time to time; however, the fog lifted enough from my brain to be able to blog.

I have three wonderful grandchildren who will indulge me by letting me take their pictures with the intent of getting a shot that would be perfect to paint. My oldest grandson Kalani (the heaven) is now in college...OMG where has the time gone!! The other two still at home are Kai (ocean) who is eight and Kiana (Hawaiian for Diana) is four. I love their Hawaiian names so I will be using them here. Needless to say, I must have hundreds of photos of them that I think would make wonderful paintings.

Spending the day with my two younger grandchildren a while back, I caught my 8-year old grandson in this great pose. Not a staged shot...just him being engrossed watching TV. I loved his expression and demeanor. He was totally oblivious to the fact that he was being photographed. Kai is a warm, lovable child who loves giving and receiving hugs. I live in an apartment which is an add-on to the main house and he almost always will come by on the way to do his chores to say "good morning Tutu." Kiana is a pistol. Smart beyond her years and has been conversing fluently since she was two, or maybe even earlier. It seems like she has always been speaking in sentences. She is the princess, a beauty with a mind of her own and a strong will. She comes to visit me frequently. Will on many occasions sneak in and try to scare me...she'll accomplish that on every try. I have a photo of her which I will be painting at a later time. I've painted each of them before and will probably continue to use them as subjects.





My mo'opuna (grandchildren) are God's reward. I'm sure all you grandparents out there feel just as I do. A thought I just had...if a woman thought about having children and the responsibilities it entails...playing such a huge role in the outcome of a person's life...we may think twice about becoming a mother. However, on the other side of the coin...with good, nurturing parenting we are rewarded with grandchildren. Hmmmm...come to think of it, for some, even without good, nurturing parenting we are still rewarded with grandchildren. I love being a grandmother.


Anyhow, this project will keep me busy for a while. I will post my progress at major steps. Right now, I am contemplating...OK, where do I start?

More later.