In my studio

New works in process

 Paintings and Ornaments

 This family portrait, in the process of being painted, is a Christmas gift for my customers grandparents.  Using her photo as inspiration, the image is painted with acrylics onto an 8x10 inch acid free, cold press paper to look like a Polaroid picture.

When composing the scene, I cropped her original image down to this size, and focused on the four family members.

I adore this picture of four brothers hanging out in a tree, and think it's going to be one of my favorites custom ornaments once finished. 

 Two best friends ~ sketched, outlined, painted and fired in my kiln.  It really is amazing how different glaze colors are once fired.

A baby boy crawling towards the camera, an image forever memorialized on an ornament.  I love the funny perspective and think this has to be another one of my favorites! 

This adorable ornament is a thank you gift for my husbands cousin and her husband, who let us stay in their gorgeous NYC apartment last Thanksgiving.  Well, my two babies will be home from college in a few hours (Yippeeeee!!!) so I need to get my act together.

If you'd like more information on Custom Portrait Polaroid Paintings or Custom Portrait Ornaments please click here

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Artist Spotlight - Women who Art

It's been a while since I've shone the spotlight on one of the incredible artists from my Ladies Art Class.  So, to get myself back into gear for the New Year, this week I am featuring two artists.  The first of whom has been with me since the very beginning of my Ladies Morning Out art classes and who I look forward to seeing every week ~ Carolyn Foresta.  The second, an artist who just recently started taking classes and who has already blown us away with her unique style and talent, Gina Foresta ~ yes, they're related ~ Gina is Carolyn's daughter-in-law.

Carolyn

Working with a limited color palette and simple shapes, Carolyn begins painting a Monarch butterfly.

Sometimes, for painting in detail, a lap works better than an easel.

Carolyn adds highlights to the Monarch's wings with various shades of red, yellow, and white

More detail is added to the Monarchs wings , body and to the flower on which it landed.

Carolyn and her finished Monarch masterpiece.  Another stunning painting to add to her walls and portfolio - if her granddaughter doesn't claim it first!!

Gina

For her first painting with us, Gina chose to recreate an adorable photo of her husband and daughter.  In her pre-mommy life, Gina was a graphic designer. Her design sensibilities and skills shine through in her drawing and painting techniques - which were apparent from the very beginning.

The painting at the end of Gina's first class.

During the next session, Gina added detail to the features and background.

Using the original photograph for guidance, Gina put her own unique spin on the colors and detail.

She played with colors and brush strokes to create a blurry background scene.

Gina contemplates detail in the features of her daughter,

then adds more shading and highlights to the body and background.

Gina and her finished family portrait.  An amazing work of art and a wonderful heirloom painting for her husband and daughter.

Welcome to the New Year.  I look forward to another creative year with my art ladies and to the spotlights which showcase their astonishing talent and art work

Fresh Paint - Updated

Small Paintings Inspired by Old Family Photographs

GRAY-SCALE PAINTINGS

These three small images, painted on 5 x 4 inch canvas, were inspired by family photographs of my mom and dad.  They started off as gray-scale value studies painted in shades of black and white.

Mom, as a young woman posing by her fathers car.

Mom and Dad, as a young married couple..  My father in his military uniform and my mother expecting her first child - my brother.

This painting is from a photograph of my mom, taken in the early 1960's.  My father was out to sea and mom was busy raising two babies (my brother and me) - and may have been pregnant with my sister.  Mom had just gotten her long hair cut into a much more manageable short hair style.

GRAY-SCALE PAINTINGS ~ COLOR ADDED

All dressed up and ready to roll.

Together We Serve - Ready to Serve their country and family.

Moms Time Out

These small paintings are available for sale here and would make a fun gift for a new driver, a young couple, your best friend, mom, sister or for anyone who loves vintage/retro decor.  

May Photo Contest Winner

A Big Thank You to Meylah

for selecting my Family Portrait as the best picture on

Meylah's May Photo Contest ~ "Best Mothers Day Shot"

Family Beach Walk - Custom Painting on Canvas

As the lucky winner of their contest, I was given a $25 gift certificate to spend at any online handmade store.  Oh Happy Day!!!

All Together

My selection from Lisa Golightly's Shop ~ Kiki and Polly on Etsy

During the month of June the Photo Contest will be Summer Travel.  So, start loading your best Summer Travel photographs to Meylah's Flicker Group

Thank you again!  And Happy Travels.