portraits

I am switching gears entirely. I love sewing, but I am a painter and I want to paint.

I've had this idea for an enormous piece I want to do of the kids in the bathtub, and I did some sketches and some mock-ups, and the momentum is still there, but I decided to shelve that particular piece for now. Instead, I want to do portraits.

I started with my kids, but I want to do yours, too.

They'll be small, around 5 or 6 square inches, rendered from a photograph, and painted in oil on canvas or board.

It was just a coincidence that both pictures I chose of the kids show them with their heads slightly turned to the right and looking either wistful or pensive. That they're cropped exactly the same was my artistic license (or laziness! you decide!). Side-by-side they look a little "matchy," so, live and learn. I won't hang them next to each other.  

They turned out beautifully, even more so than the pictures here can capture. It's a great way to turn an ordinary photo (or one with a strange prop, like a red shovel) into an original piece of art unique to your family. 

These two are basic and straightforward, but I'm excited to try some more experimental stuff, with collaged layers and more abstract, artsy elements. I'll post more pieces as I go, so stay posted.

To jump-start this project, I'm going to host a contest to win a free portrait!

To enter: just leave a comment with your email address. I'll close the comments on Saturday, February 18th at noon (EST), and randomly choose two winners from all the comments. You supply the picture, select the surface you'd like, and specify any color preferences.

Stick around even if you don't win, though -- I will be available for commissions starting at $50 for small original portraits. 

Good luck!

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