Dragonfly for Kaylee

24" x 24" acrylic on canvas. This matches the bedroom theme Jenny and Adam used for Kaylee's bedroom.

Sunflowers

Three 12" x 12" canvases, acrylic on canvas.

Another Pumpkin

I saved this pumpkin for today so that he wouldn't be rushed and I could figure out a good facial expression. I accidentally knocked a few of his lower teeth out, but he still turned out as angry as I hoped he would.

Pumpkin Season is Here!

It was misting sideways this morning. What a welcome from October. It didn't stop me from making the most of my day, and it also made me giddy because it finally felt right to start carving pumpkins. I was very ambitious going into it, but when I actually started working on them, I realized that it's like learning the craft from scratch. Fortunately, carving pumpkins are cheap, and October is long. But here are the first four:

Ladybug for Alex

I have this thing where I feel terribly guilty if one child gets a piece of artwork but not the other. So, for Kate's sister, Alex, I painted her favorite animal, a ladybug (at least, I'm hoping her favorite animal is still the ladybug). Acrylic on 10" x 10" canvas.

Gymnast for Kate

My cousin, Kate, is very involved in gymnastics - and she's extremely talented, too. So it's no surprise that when it came to artwork, she asked for a gymnast. 10" x 10" acrylic on canvas.

Deer for Silas

My friend and coworker, Renee, is expecting a baby boy named Silas in the next few weeks, so, of course, I wanted to paint something for her. The theme of the bedding they chose for Silas is Willow from buybuy Baby, so I painted a set of three canvases to match. Acrylic on three 6" x 6" canvases.

As a continuous scene

Close up

A Bicycle Painted for One

Heidi just had a very handsome little boy named Lucas, and his room is decorated in a transportation theme. Her mother-in-law bought a few pictures for the room. One was of a wagon, another of an old-fashioned cab. I painted a 10" x 10" acrylic on canvas to match the style and theme of the room. It sits on a little picture frame holder.

Zebra for McKenna

McKenna turns one this week, so of course, she needed another painting. Her mom said that they envision an entire collage of animals for the wall. Luckily for me, these are rather simple and easier to paint. Here is her zebra:

10" x 10" acrylic on canvas.

An Observation of Progress

As I finished the paintings for Asher, I had to flip back through my portfolio and reflect upon how much my style has changed and, thank goodness, improved. So, I'll share it with you:

Train

My first train, July 2009

My second train, done at the same time as the first, yet so much better

Train, April 2011

Zebras

First zebra, July 2009

Zebras, April 2011

Giraffes - A crowd favorite

First giraffe, February 2009

Second Giraffe, July 2009. Worse than the first. It's okay, I said it

Third giraffe. More realistic than the others, and better in my opinion.
Again, painted at the same time as the second.

Also July 2009

August 2009, because I was on a roll

February 2010. Still my favorite giraffe

Giraffes, April 2011


Lions

My first lion, July 2009. Very cartoony

Second lion, same time. Not an improvement

Third lion. It was for my niece, it better be good.

My niece, demonstrating that her lion is interactive

 

Lion, April 2011

Always end with the Elephants

Not my first elephant. We'll say it's my first presentable elephant
February 2009

July 2009

Same time, July 2009. I really branched out with my colors

July 2009

My all-time favorite painting, May 2010

April 2011

I like that no two animals look the same. My lions have greatly improved, my giraffes are all over the place, and I just haven't had enough practice with zebras or lions. Elephants, on the other hand, I seem to have down. I can't imagine why . . .