Hi everyone!
I actually finished this little guy before Easter, but just never got around to putting him on my blog. But here he is, and I will have more to put up very soon. Hope all of you are doing well!
Mr. Easter Bunny Portrait
Hello! I hope you are all doing well considering this awful, current coronavirus news. It’s so hard to even concentrate on daily things we do, never mind trying to be creative in all this negativity. One really has to separate from that for awhile, go to a quiet room and put on some good music, just to calm the nerves! This is why I paint.
Anyway…this is also why I have only gotten this far on this painting. But I am going to complete this by the end of this week, I swear! I really do like how it’s looking so far and I hope you like it, too.
I will be back soon. Take care and be safe!
little amish boy started
Almost there but still lots to do
Hello again! Just wanted to share a new portrait I had wanted to try for awhile now. My daughters had gotten me to listen to this music artist who seems to be very popular now, Billie Eilish. She is very talented and I love many of her songs. She seems very down to earth when she is interviewed… so very interesting to listen to. Billie also has many different looks and hairstyles, but I really took to this photo I found of her that made her look very striking, and so I decided I would try it. Hope you like it.
Also I have started another portrait of a little amish boy, since I haven’t done many boys lately. I still haven’t decided what animal he’s holding, maybe a puppy, baby goat…we will see. But this is the beginning stages….
And lastly, I just wanted to mention I will be advertising “Eva and the Piglet” in the April/May issue of Country Sampler Magazine which should be on stands April 1st. Well that’s it for now. Back to the drawing board!
Billie Eilish Pastel Portrait
little amish boy started
Eva and the Piglet Country Sampler Magazine April/May Issue
Hello! I just wanted to show you a finished portrait of a boxer dog and a Sea Captain I am in the process of working on.
The poor boxer dog was sitting half finished for at least 1 year and a half. Overtime I would look at it sitting in the corner, and I just had no interest at the time. I look at it now and ask “Why?”. He’s so handsome!
The Sea Captain I had always wanted to paint. I have always been in love with Sea Captains since ‘The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” came out as a series in the 60’s! I loved that Captain! When I saw this vintage black and white photo, saw all the wrinkles in his pleasant, worn face, I knew I had to paint him! I added a pipe just for extra. Now I can’t wait to finish him! I will put it up as soon as I am finished. Back to the drawing board…
Boxer Dog…finally
Sea Captain Coming Along
Well, I have been busy. I am working on THREE paintings at the same time now, because I can’t wait to see each one completed! This is crazy!
Lady Diana is coming along nicely, she just needs her hair and small pieces completed to become a finished piece. I wanted to get her face almost completed before I went any farther, as it makes me feel comfortable in the fact that it looks like her. Now I can proceed with the rest.
The Amish girl is getting there, but I still need to do the basket of peaches and her hair. Why am I so afraid to do her hair????? I think it’s because I really am happy with the way she is coming out now, and I’m so afraid if the hair doesn’t look right, I’ll be very disappointed. That’s just me! But like every other painting before this one, I have proceeded to the next stage and I have survived. Thank goodness!
The last painting I just started randomly as I have loved this character and television series for such a long time, I…I…just had to! Little Melissa Gilbert as Laura Ingalls on Little House and the prairie! She was a spitfire! There could not have been a more perfect person to play this part in a series, and I loved watching her and the show…I still do! So she is now added to my drawing board. I have completed more than what you see here now, but I will show you soon the completed pieces. I can’t wait! Stay tuned!
Lady/Princess Diana Almost Completed
Amish Girl Almost Completed
Laura Ingalls/Melissa Gilbert Almost Completed
Hello again! Wow, this took me awhile to complete, but here she is! The outcome surprises even me whenever a new painting is completed. I must say, I am VERY happy with this one.
This painting took me awhile only because I could not proceed to the last stages until I could decide if I wanted her to be holding flowers or some other object. I felt like it needed more in the painting than just the amish girl to add interest. I don’t know why, as I wanted the girl to actually be my center of interest from the very beginning.
When I looked at the painting as a whole, I realized there was actually more going on than I first realized. For example, hinting that the parents are in the front seat by their silhouettes. The amish girl, her cap strings blowing in the wind, letting the viewer know that the buggy is in motion. Her calm face and daydreaming eyes, making us wonder what she is thinking as she rides along in the buggy, watching the world around her. Where is she going? What is she seeing?
This was painted to recreate what I would see on our many family trips to Pennsylvania as we drove along the country…and well-traveled roads. We would always get stuck behind a few buggies, and you could not help but notice the amish children peering out the back. They always seemed so calm and serene, just glancing around from that small rectangular opening, taking everything in. Occasionally, one or two would smile and wave at us, and I would be ecstatic if they did, but all the while I would wonder what they were thinking. What was their life like? This is the image, or the “feeling” I wanted to share with you. That’s when I realized this painting was enough on its own the way it was.
I hope you like it. On to the next one…again! Cheryl
Amish Girl Daydreaming
Hello! Yes, it’s me again. Finally back from the Christmas rush and craziness. A much needed break gave me some new ideas for the New Year. Can’t wait to try some new pieces (and finish some half-done ones) that are on my list to try.
But I did want to share this portrait which was one of two I was commissioned to do for a Christmas gift. This is Everly, and her expression gives her awesome personality away! I couldn’t wait to try her, even though as every new painting is, looked a little challenging. At the end of it all, I was pleased with the result, as were they, which makes me VERY happy!
I attached the photo here along with my finished painting. I don’t know what it is, but every time I look at her happy expression I can’t help but smile myself. Such a cutie!
The cute photo
The finished portrait
I finished a commissioned portrait not too long ago, as a gift from a mom to her daughter (for Mother’s Day) of her baby son. I was not a friend of this woman on Facebook, so I never got to see all the rave reviews that other people were seeing and sharing. But, she was very happy I heard and so this makes me happy.
I couldn’t believe it when I first saw his photograph, the expression on his face was priceless and I couldn’t wait to try painting him. It was a lot of fun. So here he is, Mr. Mason! So cute!
Mason – A Pastel Portrait
Hello again.
Well, here it is! The finished portrait of Aster! I hope you like it.
So sorry it took so long, but I wanted to make sure Kevin Williams got the portrait safe and sound( it ended up getting there the day before Christmas) and that they opened it, viewed it and everything… before I put the portrait up here on my blog.
Anyway, they all loved the portrait and Kevin said Aster had a cute reaction when it was opened. That made me really happy, of course. He could probably tell you more of what happened, but I am just glad it got there and it is safe, and once it is under glass, it will last a lifetime! Enjoy Kevin Williams and family. Aster was a joy to paint!
Also, I now have a listing I created on Etsy made just for ordering portraits. In case you are interested it is here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/502936885/custom-commissioned-hand-painted-pastel?ref=s
A gift that can last a lifetime. Thank you!
Aster reference photo
Portrait Of Aster Completed
Hello! Just putting up a small collage of some of the portraits I have done over the past year or so. I am going to be putting up a post on my Etsy Shop for purchasing commissioned portraits, and I wanted to group a small collection for easy viewing as samples. So here they are. More portraits may be viewed by clicking in the “post tag” section on my sideline here under the headings “Portrait” and “Pastels”. Enjoy!
And also…I almost forgot….I will be putting up the final portrait of Aster, since sending it off to Kevin Williams as a gift. He finally received it the day before Christmas. So much had gone on that week, and things got put on hold. We were waiting for things to get somewhat back to normal, and now I think we can finally share it with you. Please watch for it in a day or so. Thank you. Cheryl
A Portrait Collage
