Inquisitive Eyes

This is a new addition to our family. He is my sisters first grandson. Of course he is being spoiled rotten. I caught a shot of him as he was being held by his grandfather. His eyes are what drew me to the image.

Resting His Eyes

This is the second of my 100 portraits challenge. I left the blemishes because it show that this little painting took some time to complete and that it sat around on my art table unprotected. It demonstrates how vulnerable we all are especially when we rest our eyes in public.

Family Conundrum

This piece is one that has many meanings for me. It is about family and symbolism. I initially posted this image to instagram. As you know, the application crops your image to a certain format. This is the full picture. The images are from Commerce.

Anointed One

I was fortunate to visit Commerce this past long weekend. We cooked, danced, took photos and enjoyed one another. I got to sketch and paint a lot on Sunday. I started out at G Lake on the campus (probably no longer G Lake). The birds were hanging out and eating the food thrown in the water by visitors . I did a few gouache paintings of the birds and visitors. Later in the morning I started sketching family and friends. Overall, very joyful about the entire visit. This is my sister Tammy. The title comes from the stroke of lavender down her forehead. It reminded me of Ash Wednesday.

Friday Night Ritual

My parents loved to entertain. If people were around, there was usually a game of cards and/or dominoes going. I usually sat on the couch taking pictures or sketching. The participants had to have thick skin as there was always trash talking.

Morning Chat

This is an old sketch of my brother that I finally completed. I made the sketch when he was first getting to know his most recent grandson. We were sitting in his living room and I liked the way the light was hitting his skin. Of course the colors are my added spice. I used ink on Shizen handmade paper for the initial drawing. I added the pastel this year.

Just Learning To Walk

One of the kids as they were learning to walk and be independent.

Doing Aunties Hair

This is my niece doing my sister's hair. I took liberties with the colors. I did the initial drawing a few years ago. I just added color this year. I used a handmade paper by Shizen.

He Pays Attention

This young man is my oldest nephew. He is having a conversation with one of his sons. I like how he interacts with them. I primarily worked with graphite and grey pastels on gesso covered charcoal paper.

A page from my sketchbook.

Blue Moon

My youngest Aunt passed recently. I couldn't go to her funeral. This drawing was inspired by her. The portrait of her is from a photo I took during a family reunion. She always had those sultry eyes and she could sing. I have not seen her in years. I will miss her.

Sketchbook page. My Stepfather preparing his pit.

Dog Wash

I am going back to old photos for another painting series. Most of the photos are from the nineties. The subject is my stepfather and one of his dogs. He is giving her a bath in our yard. Our backyard was large and great for parties.

A sketch book share.

Show Prep

This montage represents what the various actor/models were doing before the show began. I started sketching before the show. I really could not resist being around that many models one has to take advantage. It was an honor to participate in the production of this wonderful event. Thanks to the Paper Chairs Theater Collective.

This is a page from my Khadi paper sketch book. The subject is my nephew Jeremy. The initial drawing was done with a fountain pen. I later dissolved the ink lines with water to establish grey scale underpainting. I later added watercolor.

Tracey Hay Bales

I must admit that I buy a lot of products as a result of reading and watching blog and vlog posts. I bought some french made pastels by Roche because of a recent post. This was the first test of those pastels. I love the density of color and size. The painting was inspired by sketches and photos taken during my ride through the Central Valley of California.

A sketch of my baby sister.

Side Porch Peace

I'm back to making paintings of family members. For this piece, I used Golden's Fine Pumice gel medium to cover a drawing on Bristol paper. Next, I put in a watercolor underpainting. The pastel was added last with the idea of letting some of the process show. This is one of my favorite pictures of my Stepfather. He loved sitting on the side porch. I also see some of my Mother in this piece.

Housework Sister

This is a painting of my youngest sister doing her chores. I was sitting on the porch watching her. This is my third painting from that image. This is the largest of the three at 16 by 16 inches. I started out with a charcoal drawing which I covered with watercolor. The pastel was the final layer. I took a few liberties with color.

Card Player 2 and Bright Eyes

Pastel on Shizen Pastel paper. This is Tony a family friend that I have painted and drawn a few times. He has great features and skin. Plus he likes to dress well. My first painting of him sold through Mitchie's gallery here in Austin to a collector from South Carolina. I will do a watercolor next.

The drawing.

I sketched this little one while his grandfather (my brother) held him.

He Likes Hats

This is my youngest nephew from my siblings. He is now getting taller than me and the voice is changing. I would call this stage the contemplative stage that I assume we all go through. I was sitting around my sister's home after Christmas dinner and Casey sat down. The initial sketch was in ink on Canson paper. I covered that sketch in pastel while on vacation in California. I took liberties with colors because I can.

Yellow Earrings

This is another sketch from the Thanksgiving Holidays. My aunt Mary Lou was wearing the earrings. People are watching television in the background. My shoulder is again in the foreground. The others are watching the domino game. The initial drawing was done in graphite. I later added the watercolor with an eye towards leaving evidence of the drawing.

Domino Hand

My family has a competitive side. We love playing cards, dominoes...we like games. When I lose I get to sketch. I chose to leave the searching lines visible so that people could see more of the process of creating a painting

Smoke In Your Face

This is the second drawing from our Thanksgiving weekend celebration. Yes we have smokers in my family.