I AM the Flower Girl

I AM the Flower Girl

16 x 20

Oil in Raymar Panel

NFS

This little painting did not make the cut.  I brought it to hang in my featured artist show at the Workhouse Arts Center but when placing the groupings on the wall it just didn't fit comfortably into the show.  So...though I do love the gesture of the little girl...she remained at home.  She is the grand-daughter of a relative and will reside in her grandma's home instead.  What drew me to the piece is her attitude. She just exudes an "I'm in charge" attitude.  

The show will be hung until July 1st...I cannot believe in two short weeks I will be bringing the wedding paintings home!  It has been a wonderful experience.  

Now I begin new adventures!  Stay tuned...

Zipper - preparation for the big day

Zipper

18 x 20

Oil on Canvas

$700.00

This is the last of the nine pieces in my featured artist show at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia.  The show is titled "Weddings and Destinations."  I share the billing with Kathy Strauss's fabulous destinations photography that compliment my weddings paintings perfectly.  

Here the bride is getting ready...helped out by a close relative with the final touches of her preparation for what will be one of the most important days of her life.  

I remember all the preparation for my own wedding.  It was a relatively small affair by today's standards but we arranged for photography, food, cake, church etc...all the bases were covered.  We even got ahold of an antique car to ride to the church...The one thing we forgot to make arrangements for is for my mom to get to the church!!!  In all the preparation I boarded the car with my maid of honor and my dad...my mom was left at home with the photographer!!!  She had to hitch a ride with him or she would have missed the whole thing!!!  So funny now...not so funny then!  

This series and show has been a wonderful experience for me.  I love painting series and look forward to starting my next project.

Beatrice Townsend at the National Gallery of Art

I am back at the National Gallery of Art painting Beatrice Townsend by John Singer Sargent.   This is the result of my first day's work.  I still have a lot to do but I am pleased with my progress so far.  I really haven't touched the face but everything else has been at least blocked in and some things shaded a bit.  I remember thinking I could not wait to get to that red sash...that beautiful red sash.  I grabbed a glob of alizarin crimson and stroked the canvas....AACK!!!  The sash is NOT alizarin crimson red.  It is much more terra cotta/orange red.  The lessons I learn when I *think* I know what I am doing!!!  So with the correct color mixed I painted the sash.  Happy happy me.  

I start out at home sketching the piece and getting a feel for where everything is.  It is all about relationships.  Once I was pretty comfortable with the sketch I headed to the gallery.

When at the National Gallery of art I set up my easel and began sketching on the canvas.  I brought a blank white canvas.  My first two tries were not successful...but undaunted I persevered and managed to get everything in the right place...or pretty close!

My loving husband of 39 years (our anniversary is the 15th!!!) stopped by to see how I was doing and took some actions shots!

I did get quite a few questions from visitors this time...a lot of people asking about the process of applying to become a copyist.  I always try to be helpful and pleasant.  As I packed up to leave a groups of teenage girls stopped by and asked if they could take a picture of me with my painting...there exact words were "you are awesome"!!!  So I left the gallery with a huge smile on my face that will take days to fade.  

The Flower Girl

Flower Girl

30 x 40

Oil on Canvas

$1000.00

This little girl when through a lot to get where she is.  I loved the composition of the girl and her grandmother...I loved the feeling of the piece...but I wasn't sure what to put in the background.  I thought maybe a realization of the church.  A flower girl being led into the church by her grandmother told the story I wanted to tell.  An artist friend, Lydia , suggested a church.  She even researched a few source photos.  So the trials began...

I painted the girl and her grandmother.  I am pretty pleased with the placement and the gesture.  Now what to do with the background.  I have since learned that I WILL have a complete concept before I begin a piece...the lessons continue...

I brought my painting into photoshop and "cut out" the figures and placed them on a blank "canvas".  I then laid in the picture of the church and blurred  and faded it a bit to see how it would look.  I liked the result so I decided to proceed. 

Here the church is too realized...the sidewalk is too straight and that bow on the back of the dress!!!!  What was I thinking???

I softened the background...still not happy...

At this point I am trying to figure out what direction to go...Why have I not fixed that bow yet???  AAUUGGHH!!!!

I tried brightening the background a bit and extending the sidewalk to the bottom of the canvas.  Oh, yes, that is my mahl stick hanging down across the grandmother's backside.  I also am not pleased with the little girl's left arm...and the tie in the back (formerly known as the bow)  is now more subtle...hanging and looking looser.  

Undaunted, I decide to try something else with the background.

This is where I landed.  Not everything has to be spelled out...this painting is a story.  A rite of passage.  The grandmother is taking her granddaughter on the first of what could be many trips down the aisle.  My wish is that when people see this they will read their own story...remember their own rites of passage.  The background now lets the viewer find their story in this piece.  

I Hope You Dance - Weddings and Destinations

"I Hope You Dance"

36 x 36

Oil on Canvas

$800.00

This piece is now hanging at The Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton Virginia in my "Weddings and Destinations" show with Kathy Strauss, photographer extraordinaire! The show will be hung until July 1, 2013.  

In this scene a young mother watches her child dance will unbridled abandon.  She twirls and swirls without inhibitions.  Her mother's wish is for her to always choose her passion in life...follow her heart and let there be no limitations on her aspirations.  Isn't that what we all wish for our loved ones?

Wedded Bliss - Rising above the political fray

Wedded Bliss

18 x 24

Oil on Canvas

$700.00

A long awaited and long anticipated legality...the choice to marry the one you love.  Such a simple thing and yet so much unnecessary controversy surrounds the act.  This couple has risen above the fray and claimed their day.

This is one of the pieces in my "Weddings" Series at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton Virginia. The show will be hung until July 1, 2013.  

The reception for the show was June 8th...last night.  It was a magical, wonderful evening filled will friends, relatives and lots of fun.  My son Michael Bennett Hock catered the affair for me.  He is a fabulous BBQ artist!  He arranged for three of his friends to wear their wedding dresses and work the crowd during the reception.  He also wrote a blog tribute to me...of which I am very proud.  You can read it HERE if you are so inclined.  

Here are a couple of pictures of my husband...my biggest supporter...and my self at the reception and a great picture of my parents having fun at the reception.

What a great evening!

Now What

Now What

48 x 60

Oil on Canvas

$2000.00

This is the larger piece fashioned after the previously posted "Now What", 16 x 20.  I played around with the composition a bit and found that some thing worked in the smaller size but didn't work as well in this larger composition.  The only thing I left on the table was the illusion of a wine bottle on the left side of the bride.  I darkened the background more to really emphasize the dress...a wedding is always about the dress.  This is the largest piece in the show.

The reception will be this Saturday, June 8th from 6 to 9 at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton Virginia...building 16.