It’s the middle of August, and we are in the middle of a heatwave! I am not a summer lover, as many of you know…so I have been hiding out in front of the easel as much as possible. It’s definitely my happy place!

Here are my newest completed portraits to share with you.

Circles and Daydreams – 11 x 14 inch acrylic on Raymar panel 

I just LOVE the title of this portrait!   This sweet painting came together really quickly, and I love the repeated circular pattern behind her, and those swathes of pink and green throughout the painting. She’s one of my dreaming portraits, and as the heat rages and pandemic continues, I think I may be doing more of these calm and peaceful portraits.

The Sweetest of Things – 11 x 14 inch acrylic on stretched canvas

There is a lot of texture under this portrait. I am enjoying the prepping of these canvases more than usual, and enjoying the brush strokes beneath brush strokes. This portrait started fairly light in pastel colors, and quickly she evolved into this rich and saturated palette with deep purples and magenta…set against that cool teal background. Purples are showing up again in my art, and I love them!

A Summer Remembered – 11 x 14 inch acrylic on Raymar panel (SOLD, thank you!)

There are some portraits that I work on, that go very easily and quickly, and others I struggle with. This was one of the latter…I struggled with a previous portrait on this one, a side profile. I wasn’t happy with it, at all. So I went over the whole thing with black gesso, and started again. That is the great thing about acrylics…the ability to keep going and going until you love something. And this beauty…I LOVE! She is a dreamy portrait, with a breeze in her hair. I love the blue evening hues, and that bit of scribbled detail that add to her calm and peaceful look.

I’ve also been reading a lot about the artists of the Renaissance lately, from my favorite, Michelangelo, to Leonardo, Raphael, and a woman artist, Sofonisba Anguissola. I can’t imagine being one of the very few women artists at that time in history. I have a feeling that the portraits in my near future, may have a bit of Renaissance influence to them. 

I have also been working on large flower paintings for my own home the last couple months, and I will be back to show you those soon. 

Until then, be safe, healthy, and creative!

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“I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.” ~ Leonardo da Vinci