Portrait Commission

What can I say. I loved painting this gorgeous girl. She's the daughter of someone I went to high school with, and though we haven't seen each other in years (decades?!), I found resemblances to her father's features, as I remember them, as I painted her face, which was pretty cool. This was a larger, more in-depth portrait, which was a nice change of pace.

Procrastinating

It is hot today. I am working on a commission (not the one pictured), but it is hot, and I am procrastinating. I love the cute face I’m painting, but nevertheless, all of the following have seemed important enough to interrupt painting for:

1. Check to make sure the laundry hanging out in the sun is actually drying. (It is.)

2. Play with the cat.

3. Stretch.

4. Water the only houseplant left standing, as I am usually not that attentive a waterer.

5. Go searching for the paintbrush that I left somewhere on one of my previous peregrinations.

6. I think it’s time for a snack.

Portrait Commission

And here's the second of the two adorable brothers. I've just begun work on two larger portraits of these boys. Painting a second portrait of someone is always a little intimidating for me before I begin. I'll never just copy a painting, which is guaranteed to result in a dull, lifeless piece.  I start fresh looking at the person (or a photo). And there's always the big question in the back of my mind: Will it be as good as the original? Maybe someday I'll learn to trust that the second portrait usually does go pretty smoothly--I know my way around that particular face a little bit. But I guess a little bit of fear is good for keeping me focused; relaxing is another way to ruin a painting, at least for me. Anyway, the first of the larger ones is off to a good start!

Portrait Commission

I recently painted two adorable brothers. Here's the first. Isn't he a cutie pie? And I love, love, love getting responses like the one from their mother:

"Jessica, I just opened up my portraits and am over the moon in love with them!! They are wonderful and look so much like my boys!!! I'm dying!!!! They are amazing!! I love them! You have made me so happy!!"

How lucky that something I love to do can make someone else feel so good, too.

Half-Hour Portrait

Kids are so darn cute.

Point Lobos

Big Sur. I can't believe it's been a year since we were there. We hiked the perimeter of Point Lobos Preserve, one of the most beautiful walks I've been on. Also there were seals and sea lions basking on the beaches, and otters being ridiculously cute.

Half-Hour Portrait

Something interesting happened today. I was scrolling through facebook, when a profile picture caught my eye. It was a portrait I painted, obviously years ago, that I had completely forgotten about, and which I have no record of. (Not this portrait.) I love that!

Half-Hour Portrait

I can't always get a good photo before a portrait goes out the door. I still like the painting.

Half-Hour Portrait

This sweetie's an artist in her own right. It's amazing sometimes how I don't see family resemblances until I start painting. I really see her mom in this one.

Half-Hour Portrait

This squirmy little cutie pie would much rather have been outside with her dad than inside getting her portrait painted. But I'm so glad she managed to hold semi-still, because I love the result!

Pet Portrait

I've always been partial to black and white dogs. Local friends, can you guess who this is?

Half-Hour Portrait

This kid may have the biggest set of eyelashes I've ever seen. This portrait is also from a photo--one with a nice, strong contrast between dark and light, which is my ideal.

Half-Hour Portrait

I usually don't like to work from photos of big smiles, since it's hard to make them look natural in a painting. But this one worked out OK.

Half-Hour Portrait

Sometimes I don't manage to get a very good photo before I send people on their way with their portraits. Anyway, I think I have finally painted every member of this beautiful family!

Half-Hour Portrait

Isn't this little girl just about the cutest thing you ever did see? People sometimes ask me what makes some people easier to paint than others. There are a few generalities I can name, but mostly I know it when I see it. And she's got it!

Half-Hour Portrait

This little cutie's portrait went all the way to Australia!

Half-Hour Portrait

I painted him as a little boy... Now he's a teenager!

Half-Hour Portrait

And now the family portraits are complete!

Half-Hour Portrait

It’s taken me far too long to put this beautiful woman’s portrait up. I posted her adorable kids a while ago!