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.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

The first time God's voice was heard through 

a human mouth,

it was the cry of a Baby!

"The Adoration of the Shepherds" - Gerard vanHowthorst 1590-1656

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given,

and the government will be on His shoulders.

And He will be called Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

(Isaiah 9:6 NIV)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of my followers.  May God in His infinite mercy grant each and everyone of you joys beyond compare and peace to quiet the unrest of these trying times.

Christmas Prep

For those who have been following my series "Women of the Bible," I've taken a slight break from it - although I do have a WIP (work in progress) sitting on my easel right now.  Had to take time to prepare for Christmas.  This year I've decided to use my God-given talent to make all occasion cards for gifts.  Below is a sampling of some I have completed.  It is something I've come to enjoy doing.  On last count I've made 23 - just two more to do to complete the 25 cards originally planned for.  Thank goodness I have some time before it absolutely has to be done. 

My Sunday School class gave me a wonderful "appreciation" gift of a Cuttlebug for Christmas.  What is a Cuttlebug you ask?  It is a cardmaking/scrapbooking little machine that does great things, like embossing as shown in the purple oval of the second card below.  I love it.  Makes cardmaking so much more funner.

I must admit, I'm not chomping at the bit to get back to my painting because I'm thoroughly enjoying creating cards that will bring joy to someone else.  Eve will have to wait a little longer.

Women of the Bible - Queen Esther

Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins.  So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. (Esther 2:17)

The third in my series of Women of The Bible.  

Esther, whose Jewish name was Hadassah, was taken in by her cousin Mordecai after the death of her mother and father.  Mordecai and Esther were among those taken captive from Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar.  Scripture tells us that Esther was "lovely in form and features" and when King Xerxes (Ahasuerus) looked upon her he was attracted to her much more than he had been to the other virginal young ladies brought before him. 

The story of Esther is intriguing.  Esther was told by her cousin Mordecai not to reveal the fact that she was Jewish.  If you want to know why, you gotta read the story.