Sunny cold winter day

Snowshoeing with my boys. Keep reminding myself what a blessing it is to live next to the forest.

Fixing the details

Somehow the last 5% of work on a portrait is a torture. 

The clouds

I stopped the car in the middle of the road twice to take these pictures. Bubble-clouds and a touch of a rainbow on the right.

Green river in danger

Today's lesson: do not touch paintings when super-tired. Coffee is not allowed too. Go have some rest instead.

What a day

I got a job offer planning to start next Monday. I was not looking for a job but I am a ninja-guru in IT so jobs find me. (j/k)
Ironically I will earn in one day more than I could have earned selling arts in a month!
I feel sad and stressed because we are back to square one. I hate to leave my boy with a babysitter. Even these disturbing news could not keep me away from my easel!  30 minutes work on this portrait today.

Green river progress

Today I worked on my new favorite landscape. Still have not decided if this one will be more like an abstract painting or something closer to realism.
12"x 9"
Oh, I just noticed that the photo changed the colors completely. Usually I take it in a hurry when my son is already awake and squeaking ;)

Portrait again and again

Getting closer and closer...

Background and dress look "dirty" and unfinished, the face is OK. 

Green river

Today's cute green river. It looks a bit odd. I kind of like it!

Batavia Kill landscape

I still have not decided if this landscape is finished or not.
Sometimes the painting has to be left alone and then it will finish itself, you will be surprised how wonderful it will look next morning!

Happiness

Someone told me an interesting thing. When an artist works on his painting, he is happy and this happiness "flies" into his artwork. So folks who buy his painting actually get a piece of happiness. How else you can buy it?

Portrait again!

Many little details are bothering me. My goal is to finish this week. I will not be upset if it does not happen. Life is life. Be realistic.
 

Napping baby II

Precious memories.

One more session

The goal today was likeness. In some ways I am pleased with results, but there is still a lot to do.
Next two days we have people in our house, no painting for me :( Hey, sometimes it is good to have a little break! :)

Another portrait session

I suddenly realized that despite the fact that proportions/color/overall impression are improving with every session, likeness = 0. Oh well, something to work on next time.

Portrait IV

Moving along. Trying to keep track on the progress.

Portrait III

A very short session today. One can never predict how long the baby will nap!

Portrait II

Second session about an hour long.
Trying to figure out the colors. Still missing contrast in shadows.
It would have been so much easier if I actually saw this girl in real life. Painting from photo is not my favorite!

Exploring a new park

Today we went to investigate a park that we found a few months ago.
Majestic scenery in all directions and a playground! I am very impressed to find it in the middle of nowhere.

Napping baby

My little one was 3.5 months old when I did this drawing.
I was constantly asking my husband to wake him up "otherwise he will not sleep at night" and kept drawing... Yes, he gave us hard times that night.
Somehow good memories stay, bad memories go.

Portrait

Starting a portrait of a 2 year old girl.

My goal was to get proportions and composition, likeness will come soon.
Ha-ha, she already looks like 10 yo! :)