Children of the Rainbow - progress

It has been almost four weeks since I started the underpainting on this piece.  Longer than I expected; however, four days out of the four weeks I was unable to paint because I had out-of-town company.  My niece, an artist herself and a tattoo artist for a living, was here from Hawaii so had to show her around.  I live in the Nashville, TN area, so needless to say, there was a lot she wanted to see and experience.

Anyway, today - July 29th other than details and touch-ups on the underpainting, I am close to laying the color in.  I can see areas where adjustments are needed.  So far it has certainly been a trip - the faces bringing back so many memories. Oh yes, one other thing - these children are all related and there are four generations represented.

More on "Women of the Bible"

Those of you who follow my blog know that I've been working on a series of 11x14 paintings of the Women of the Bible.  Each time I completed a painting I shared it with my Sunday School class, because it started as the result of one of my classes.  One of the ladies of my class thought it would make beautiful cards and that she would surely buy some.  So, I thought ... "Why not?"  I have had all five of them printed into cards and have packaged them.  In each card I quoted a scripture which related to the lady in the painting.  I don't intend to make any real profit off these, but it was a project I wanted to do - I'm satisfied with it - and am glad I did it.  Who knows, it may result in something bigger than I expect.

Here's the cards:

4-1/4 x 5-1/2 notecards

More on "Children of the Rainbow"

Been working on this since June 24th, did not think I would get this far in a little over a week.  Using photographs from days gone by I am showing three generations - all being children - "Children of the Rainbow - Family of God."  Ever try to get a bunch of kids together to take a picture?  Well this painting is supposed to show that event.  Even if they are in the family of God, they are still children. 
This group of children depict the many races that usually make up a family in Hawaii:  Hawaiian; Caucasian; Japanese; Chinese, Black; Portuguese - all blended together.

Needs fine tuning - maybe a couple more faces - then the underpainting.  Through the process I've wondered - "Did I bite off more than I can chew?"  Wish me luck.

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.

WOMEN OF THE BIBLE - Rahab

Thought I would never get myself back to my easel, but I did.  Here's my latest accomplishment - Number 5 in my series of Women Of The Bible.  In each painting I've tried to put a "hint" that would lead to the identity of each women.  I think, since it has been a while, I'll repost the other paintings I have completed in this series going backward from Rahab.

Rahab, the Prostitute

Eve, Mother of Mankind

Mary, Mother of Jesus

Queen Esther - Saved the Jewish People

 

 

 

Ruth - Ancestor of Jesus Christ

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.

Family Portrait - Finished

Well, it has taken me long enough, (but not as long as I thought it would) to complete this portrait of my son and his family.  Started it the latter part of December and signed it just a couple of days ago.  They are very pleased with - I am so glad for that.  Needless to say when I compare it to artists like Daniel Greene or Michael Shane Neal, it falls way short.  Oh well, my son and his wife love it and that's what matters.

It was such a challenge doing five faces on the same canvas.  Needless to say, I will probably never do anything like this again.

Finished Underpainting

Just a quick post today.  I've completed the underpainting on the family portrait.  Some painters do just a loose, sketchy type underpainting, which is what I usually do, but in this case I wanted to be right on with likenesses.  I don't think I can get any closer than this.  I've been kind to the adults, shaving off a few years.  Now comes the color - scary.  (18x24 oil on stretched canvas.)

Women of the Bible - Eve and Other

Those who follow my blog know that I have been working on a series entitled "Women of the Bible."  Painting women of the Bible who I have been impacted by.  So far I've done Ruth (Book of Ruth); Mary, the mother of Jesus; Queen Esther (Book of Esther) - All of these women, in my opinion, were strong women who followed God's will and helped Him to accomplish what was necessary.  Today I am posting the woman who changed the course of our lives - Eve. 

This painting is actually not finished, but you know sometime you get to a point in a piece and you just lose the motivation to "finish" it - well that is where I am here.  I used several pictures to come up with this composition and while scanning through the photos it was interesting to find that many renditions were an Eve with red hair ..... hmmmm! 

Maybe the reason I'm not motivated to finish this is because I've taken on a "huge" art challenge - at least for me.  A portrait of my son's family - five faces.  Laying the sketch down and capturing the likenesses took me about two weeks.  Here's the initial sketch, to which I have refined a lot ...

I really wanted them in a more unconventional pose, but this is what they wanted, so this is what I'm working on.  I'll post my progress periodically.  So far I've done a first layer of underpainting and redefining features more closely.  I must be crazy, but wish me luck anyway.  Truth be told, I am excited about doing this.