Dad's 4th Grade Reader

My dad gave me his 4th grade reader.  I love the look of old books, and I wanted to include this one in a painting.

My original plan was to stick a white rose in that vase, but I decided instead to feature this more visually interesting oakleaf hydrangea blossom that I borrowed from my landscaping.  Pretty sure that was a good call.

The dark blue vase was sculpted by my son, when he was a kid, at the Broad Ripple Art Fair.  A friend of ours painted and fired it for us.  I love that thalo blue/green color!

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Dad's 4th Grade Reader, 11 x 14, oil on canvas

Becky's Save-the-Date

Becky, a coworker of mine at the NICU, is getting married soon.  She asked me to design her "Save the Date".  She gave me all the locations in the Indianapolis area that were significant in her relationship with Marcus, and that hold a special place in their hearts.  She also gave me some examples of whimsical maps that she has seen, and her personal vision for her own version.

I put this together in Photoshop Elements.  It was a challenging project, with all the details existing on a different layer.  But having it that way did make revisions go smoothly.  After Becky requested some tweaks on my part, she sent it to her printer.  The printer did a great job, and now these postcards have traveled all over the globe to her loved ones.

Although I do not intend to make and sell these as a part of my art business, it was fun to experiment with graphic design again.  And it was especially fun to see Becky really love them.  In fact, she says she had it printed larger and framed for hanging in her home.

Congrats and warm wishes to Becky and Marcus!  

Freedom Art

I’ve been wondering if there is a way for my artwork to serve God and bless others.  In my nursing job, it’s easy to feel as though my work is for the Lord.  But with art… well, art is a “want”, not a “need.”  I wasn’t sure how God could use my skills. 

My question was answered when I was approached by my coworker, Ann Deweese.  She invited me to participate in an important opportunity to help young women who have been enslaved by human trafficking and the sex trade. 

Her daughter Sarah is involved in the Red Light Campaign, which is a student led campaign to end sex trafficking.  It is happening on IU’s campus during the month of February.  Among many other events, the team is hosting a formal art auction on February 18^th, 2012, in Alumni Hall.  Here is the link with more information about “A Night for Freedom”: https://www.facebook.com/events/365863970090894/

All of the proceeds will go to Rapha House, a safehouse in Cambodia for girls rescued from the sex trade.

My job was to create a painting that represents “freedom.”  This is what I came up with.  I hope it brings them a small fortune.  I feel honored to assist these inspiring young adults who, working together, are a light of hope in this dark and scary world.

Thanks for thinking of me, Ann. :)

"Fly Away"    8 x 10  Acrylic on canvas board

Sharla's Girls

My friend and coworker Sharla asked me to draw a portrait of her kids (cats), Ming and Bella.   It took me awhile to get to it.  Sadly, in the meanwhile, Ming succumbed to an illness on June 20, 2011.  Sharla provided me with a photo of them when they were still kittens, back in 1998.

I asked Sharla to tell me about them.  These are her words…  

I got them while I lived in Colorado.  Ming and Bella were littermates.  I wanted a Russian Blue which is what Bella is (a knock off) and most people thought Ming was a blue point Siamese.  Ming was very sweet, affectionate, and active.  I called her my little gymnast.  We used to play with a feather on a stick and she would jump up very high in the air and do flips!  Her eyes were so blue it was amazing to me.  She used to come in the room when I did Yoga and do her own little routine, rolling around everywhere.  She was such a precious little soul.

Bella has always been the less active of the two, preferring to lay in the sunbeams and watch the great outdoors. She is very much a lap cat and has been much more affectionate since Ming died.  Bella loves to be brushed.

I also used to love it when they would lay together, all curled up close.  I used to say they looked like one big cat with two heads.

Ming used to meet me at the door when I would come home, kinda like a dog would do and roll over on her back so I could scratch her tummy.  Bella has now taken to doing this (interesting, huh?)

 

Charcoal and pastel on Colourfix paper, 9”x11”