Favorites #2 - People from the Side & Hands

I've finished 499 paintings since my first lesson on 2/22/07.

I want to share some of my favorites this week.

2nd

People from the Side & Hands

(If you'd like to read the story behind the painting, click its title.)

"Mother's Hands"

"So Sweet"

"Teaching Little Fingers to Play"

"Blowing Bubbles"

"Harmony"

"Bryan's Beach Babies"

"Your Move"

"Little Treasure"

Carpenter's Hands

Are some subjects too hard to paint?


I'd heard that it's extremely hard to paint those you love the most.  It stops being just an image to convey and becomes an emotional process.  I've found that to be true. I'd wanted to paint my parents, and I searched for the right reference photograph. But, with each one I chose, I'd get a little choked up.  It's hard to look objectively at images that bring so many emotions to the surface.  
So, I gave up... sort of...
This a "portrait" of my dad.  This image probably tells more about him than any picture of his face would show.
I also painted one of my  Mother's Hands.  I think these tell my parents' stories as well as any traditional portrait.  
There was still a bit of that emotion during this process.  I didn't want to over emphasize age spots, wrinkles, and wear and tear of the decades; however, I did want to honor the years of their lives and be true to realism. 


I believe I succeeded with these two "portraits." 

Mother's Hands

How many stitches have these hands sewn? How many ears of corn have they shucked, pods of peas have they shelled, or green beans have they snapped? How many babies' bottoms have they patted or storybook pages have they turned?

Aren’t they lovely hands?

Original Oil Painting on 9"x 12" Canvas Board

[GIFT]