This painting is from another photo from Unsplash.com (thanks to aisvri for the free-use photo).
I loved her red hair against the muted blues, and her look of cool appraisal. I think she’s asking for meaning.
Contemporary Portrait-Girl
Tag figure
Contemporary Portrait-Indian Girl
So much fun! This portrait is based on a photo from Unsplash, but adapted according to my memories of our 4 month stay in India in 2014. One overwhelming impression there was the riot of color—in clothing, outside temples, in decorations. It was a beautiful feast of color!
Here’s a gallery of some steps in the process:
Rare Encounter
‘Rare Encounter’, Oil on Linen Panel, 18 x 24 in
I had a painting like this in mind for several months, ever since I took the photo last fall of my granddaughter staring at parachute jumpers exiting an airplane. I liked the lighting on her, her position, and her look of interested wonder.
It seemed a fitting start for a painting for a group Show connected with our local library’s Fall Big Read–World Of Wonders, by Aimee Nezhukumatathil. The book is intended to increase people’s interest and wonder in the natural world. I read the book over the summer and appreciated many of the author’s thoughts and insights.
In my painting I made the object of her vision and wonder a Monarch butterfly, the subject of a chapter in the book. I enjoyed researching the butterfly and adding it to my painting.
The art display is up in the Terre Haute library for the month of August 2022.
Eden
Oil on canvas panel, 18 x 24
I painted this picture of my youngest granddaughter from a photo taken and sent by my daughter-in-law. Besides loving the subject, I loved the light on her face. The photo was actually taken in their bathroom without the toys. I adjusted the background and requested a photo of the toys to add to the foreground.
This painting is currently on display at the Link Art Gallery in Paris, IL. I was delighted to find that my painting was chosen as the one used for the promotional cards for the Show. It will be up until July 15, 2022, along with other works by members of the River City Art Association, including two more of mine.
Painting Award
Lovely surprise last Friday evening–1st place in oil painting in the Wabash Valley Art Guild Spring Show!
‘Abigail Unmasked’, oil, 16 x 20
Live Portrait group in PA, II
At the end of the session, the model inspected the various representations of himself, with generous comments to all!
The group plans to continue painting veterans every other week, and in Nov 2022 have a display of all the year’s portraits of veterans at the VA hospital. At that time each veteran may choose one portrait of themselves to keep. I thought that was a great plan!
Several months later, I painted the same subject again (from my photo), on a larger canvas and with a more expressive background.
Juried Shows in Terre Haute, Fall 2021
Swope Art Museum, 77th Annual Juried Show, Nov. 6, 2021-Jan. 9, 2022
I was delighted this year to once again have a painting selected for exhibit in the Swope Art Museum Annual Juried Show. My painting ‘Flying 2020’ was chosen by Juror Drek Davis from Louisiana. In his comments he said,
“While there is no specific theme for the exhibition, it seemed to me that the vast majority of the works submitted in one way or another spoke to the moment that we find ourselves in. Nina Simone is famously noted as saying “An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times.” And while it is debatable whether that charge is an actual duty, per se, the works assembled here suggest that numerous artists in the Wabash Valley understand it as an opportunity to address some of life’s persistent emotional, social, and psychological issues. In the times that we find ourselves, for this moment, that’s important I think.”
That was exactly how I felt at this moment in the airplane! I sat there with my face almost totally covered, one mask required by the airline, one mask desired by me, and thought, “This is a strange situation we’ve come to in the world”, and was motivated to capture the moment in paint.
Flying 2020, 9 x 12 Oil on Canvas panel
Arts Illiana Small Art Show 2021
I was also pleased to have two paintings selected for the Annual Small Art Show at the Arts Illiana Gallery, this fall.
The works submitted for this Show must be less than 12 in in any dimension. It is a varied and interesting Show.
Inspection
One of my grandaughters asked me to sew a pink fleece bunting for her doll, after I had made a purple one for her sister’s doll. I made it and sent it to her and this painting is based on the photo that her mother took for me.
I like the look of quiet concentration as she inspects it. I enjoyed working with the soft and muted colors and using a palette knife for her hair.
2nd Place in Juried Show.
My painting of my grandson, titled ‘Happy’, was awarded 2nd place in Painting at the River City Art Association Annual Juried Show! This is the third year I have entered paintings, but the first time I’ve been able to attend the Opening and Awards ceremony. It was exciting and I was delighted!
The Show is up for the month of August at the First Financial Bank, 6th Street, Terre Haute, IN. The award winners will be moved to the Springhill Branch for the month of September.
Time of Reflection
12 x 16, oil
This is a family member, from a photo I took several years ago. She is an elegant, well-dressed person and I feel I captured that look. However, the colors didn’t seem right until I glazed her facial shadows with what seemed like outrageous yellows and oranges and suddenly it came to life!
marymayhewart 