Elephant Eating Fries

I received a request from a good friend to paint a picture for her nephew Mahdi. The request was unique and I knew it would be a fun painting to create: an elephant eating french fries. The only other information given to me was that it should be in bright colours.

I decided that it should be a fun painting with a cartoonish quality. I had some ideas in my head and kind of went with whatever came to me as I put it together. I started with a bright blue sky and green, textured grass.

Acrylic Painting on Canvas


I used the shiny acrylics that are easy to work with versus the duller, expensive acrylics I use for serious, life-like paintings.



I added the monkey to add a little fun to the fries. The bird was added to incorporate Mahdi's name in the painting.

I hope he likes it. It was a lot of fun to paint--there is more freedom in creating silly paintings.

Curious George

Friends requested a painting of Curious George for their baby girl's room. Their only request was a painting of the monkey with the baby's name incorporated into the painting somehow.

I selected a 12" x 12" thick canvas to paint this on. I like the thick canvas because you can hang it without a frame. I also needed it to be a reasonable size to ship to Alberta. Alberta is very expensive for shipping so I knew it shouldn't be gigantic.

Getting started...


  

I was happy to hear that they loved it. I'm always nervous painting a request for others. It's different if I just paint something and someone likes it and wants it. There's no pressure. When I paint something by request, I'm always worried they have an idea in their mind and it might not be what I imagine in mine. That's just how I am.

Ready for shipping...

Can't pass up a deal...

I walked into a miracle at Michael's last Friday. I was there to pick up a small canvas to do a painting for a friend's baby, due very soon. I wanted to get something that would look great in a baby room and ship easily enough. I stopped in for this purpose and walked into the biggest canvas deal ever. I bought a huge 3' x 4' canvas (regularly $100) for $30! I am so excited to get to work on another giant piece. I really wanted to do another. Now to think up some ideas.

I also spent a small fortune on new paints. There are three grades of acrylic paint and I like to work with the middle grade. It's not cheap but it's not insanely expensive either. I'm not a pro yet so I work with what I can afford.

In the meantime, I was able to complete a painting for my friend. I don't want to share it here until she sees it. I also don't want to share their baby name until it's time and that is a part of the artwork so... it'll be posted once I get the go ahead from them.



It wasn't easy to find the time. My partner was sick and the kids were in bed so I thought, now is the time. I can't wait for the perfect time, I have to create the perfect time. When you live in a hectic household full of kids and pets and don't get to paint all day as your profession, it is always hard to find that time to paint. I know that I'll need at least 2 hours to work on something.

I hope to force myself to carve out that time more often. I think the new canvas will inspire something... Stay tuned...

Bear the giant, loveable dog.

Today was a good day for painting. I had a job interview for the computer side of things and then washed the floors. I felt motivated and then creative. Jackson and I painted while Quinn napped and Riley was at school. I just felt like whipping up a quick painting today and not starting the big project I have had in my mind for ages. Some days just call for a quickie, right?

Earlier we had been outside playing and I snapped on my iPhone of Bear.


I decided to use my phone to paint a picture. It's not easy looking at a small iPhone screen to paint but I knew I was doing a "fun" portrait. I've done this style in the past. I did this painting in maybe 2 hours. I started and had to watch our active toddler Quinn while I finished up. He wanted to help.

In progress.


Finished painting. Acrylic on canvas.


I'm happy with it. It feels good to pick up a paintbrush.

Completing Alyssa.

I finally got around to painting the remaining three letters for Alyssa's bedroom.

I did the first three a while ago. Ages ago. It's been crazy being off with three kids and now looking for a new job. I want to paint, I just don't have the time and energy to sit down and do it. Or rather, the only things I've managed to paint are walls in the house. At least I'm getting something done.

So it feels good to get this project finished. My next one will be a painting I've had in my head for a while.

The first 3 letters I did a while ago.


The next 3 letters to spell Alyssa.


The bedding the flowers are taken from.

Time to paint.

Things have been crazy. We adopted a little boy and I have left work to be on parental leave with 3 kids ages 5, 3 and 1. To say my day is busy is an under statement. Painting has been pushed out of my radar for the past month as we adjust. I have given up hope of getting into that art show now that life has changed. I do want to paint but I'm not going to put that much pressure on myself right now.

The problem is, I am exhausted by the evening and painting is the last thing on my mind most nights. I knew I'd just have to suck it up and do it. Kind of like going to the gym--you force yourself and you feel good once you do it.

Our neighbour asked me to paint her daughter Alyssa's letters to match her bedding. So tonight I was in the mood to paint and just did it. I'm glad I did.

Art shows

I've just discovered some local juried art shows. I am going to look into them some more and I hope that I can submit something to the Oshawa art show this spring. We shall see... I've done one show (GreenPeace in Toronto) and have never auditioned for any others. It's time to put myself out there and see what happens.