Caroline and Stu

 IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I painted a nude and this is definitely a first for me, not only a nude, but a nude with someone covered in tattoos. I know tattoos get a bad rap, but I absolutely love them...the more, the better. Originally, it was just supposed to be Caroline with some of her houseplants. But she has a cat named Stu, and Stu would not move out of the way, stared at me, and then back at her. Then Caroline said, "Leave Stu in," and I'm glad she did. Stu kind of makes the painting come together. 

I originally started this painting in 2023 (you should be able to see it still) but as it is with a lot of paintings of people, I take longer than I should. I did that once with a Mira Fujita painting that I was reproducing for a friend and a reproduction of The Rookie, by Norman Rockwell. 

This one, however, is not a reproduction, but of a commission. I've been doing more portrait paintings than ever (even though my heart is with landscape paintings) and I love bringing the image of a person to life.

Under The Sea Mural for St. Mary's Hospital

 Lining everything up

The completed mural with yours truly.

Closeups of some of the sea life. 

Tree of Life Mural for St. Mary's Hospital Part 2 of 2

HERE IS THE FINAL PIECE OF art with both layers together. To the right is a tree that, no matter how I photographed it appeared white, but it's a dull brownish gray. For some reason the light kind of makes it stick out in the photographs like a sore thumb.