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Memorial Portrait

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16 x 20 Oil on Canvas Portrait

I'm thrilled to have completed this portrait commission, especially because it was created in memory of a dearly loved family member. It's always an honor to be chosen to create such a special gift for someone. Sometimes painting someone's portrait goes beyond just seeing the face, it's about capturing the essence of that person. In this case, the subject loved fun, bling, and brilliant colors. So the client and I decided early on to add the gold and make the flowers a bit fun and quirky, to kind-of go along with this sweet lady's style.

To H*LL and back

March 4, 2022, was the day that gave me nightmares for weeks. Workers were at our house rebuilding from the storm damage we had because of hurricane Ida. A category 4 is something I had never gone through before. Our little community is on the north shore of New Orleans, far inland from the coast. This is an area that typically is never hit by a category 4, by the time a hurricane hits the coastal land the storms have considerably slowed down by the time it comes this far inland. Not this time. We had two very large trees slam into the side of the house, causing major structural damages. The effects could be noticed throughout the home with large cracks in the sheetrock. When the workers removed this exterior wall (pictured below) the studs were bent and twisted.

Ida Damage

The workers left for a break time & I was busily refinishing our front door, excited that all of the work was finally making progress. We had lived with the damages from the hurricane for months now and to see everyone coming together to do the repairs was a really good feeling. I decided to take a break for a few minutes and sat down on the sofa with a fresh glass of iced tea, a was watching the fire in the fire place. Then, All of a sudden, I heard tiny popping noises above my head in the attic. My heart started racing thinking, this is weird. Suddenly, the air conditioner turned on, and black smoke began to pour from the vents! I yelled out to my husband “SMOKE”!!! Within 90 seconds out whole living area was filled with black smoke. I ran outdoors to call 911. It seemed like 10 minutes before they arrived, but it was probably less than that.

The firemen were awesome. They did all that they could do to protect our belongings. They even took my kids photos off of the refrigerator and placed them in the garage. The entire attic had to be sprayed with water and most of the ceiling removed. The chimney had caused the attic to catch fire and we were totally unaware of what was happening until the air conditioner clicked on. I am thankful that it was set to turn on, because usually in early March it’s still set to heater mode. I am thankful we were awake, many times we build our fires at night before bed time, we close the screen then go off to sleep.

The fire inspector determined that the fire was cause because of a “builder’s error”. He said that the wood should have NEVER been placed around a chimney the way this one was & that it was miraculous that we and our children were not caught in a house fire years earlier.

Our home has been gutted and currently we are waiting on the rebuild to begin. It has not been easy to find someone that is equipped to do this much restoration.

Art Studio

Some of my paintings were totally destroyed and many prints & supplies. I was fortunate to save the portrait commission I was working on at the time. I look forward to the day when the studio is all restored.

Murphy and Linda's Portrait

Murphy is a kind, easy going guy. I met with him several times at coffee shops as we inspired each other to come up with a portrait that would represent a journey together for him and his wife. The couple have been married since their youth, and they have always had pets that were a part of the family. So it was decided to incorporate of few of these little guys into the image. Typically a portrait will have a much more simplistic background but this painting needed to be more than just their images, it was to represent their story of togetherness.

This was always one of their favorite pictures, so the plan was to make it the central theme of the portrait.

After the painting was about halfway completed, Camille made the decision to use a different photo for Linda because this photograph was challenging to work with, especially when it came to the “details” (they say that the devil can be in the details, yep…art joke)

here are a few images of the progression

drawing and underpainting stage

Putting on a new face

The underpainting helps in determining the values needed in each area.

After spending an enormous amount of time on their portrait, our home caught fire. I waited outdoors for the firemen to arrive. Our entire street was filled with white smoke. Our neighbor said it was so thick she couldn’t see across the street. Several fire trucks came, a few police cars, and the paramedics. You know what they say “if your home was to catch on fire, what would you run in to get?” Yep, I actually had that thought. “MURPHY’S PAINTING!” Then in I ran, but I didn’t have to run through fire, just plenty of smoke. I darted up the stairs when I heard a fireman shout at me. “What do you think you are doing?” I shouted back “I’m trying to save something”. He then yelled out “get out NOW!” So I left (after getting the painting to a safe place.)

Our son and daughter-inlove we so kind to take us in to stay with them while we transitioned into a rental house. I had a makeshift studio in their sunroom. When my grand-darling would get home from daycare, she’d sit on my lap and pretend to paint. (Her brushes did not have paint 😁)

Because of hurricane Ida, the fire and the first and few other hurdles I had to cross…this portrait took longer than usual to deliver to Murphy, but he was graciously patient with me.

I have a video that shows the progression here from beginning to end:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmjJiTXtMsc&t=22s

Hope you enjoy!

Landry Portrait

Commissioned by a son for his Mom. (that makes this one really special)


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The Soul Awakening

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Progression of a painting.

Oil on panel

About this artwork:

The Soul Awakening is about a place that you come to where you become enlightened in some unexplainable way. There is a connection between your spirit and a great force that works for the good in your life and imparts a light in your heart and mind that can not be explained in mere words. Each person goes through a dark time in life, the darkness can engulf you like being sucked into a black hole, but in the midst of the darkness comes a place of growth where your soul is awakened by light. This light could seem very small like a faraway star but nevertheless the light illuminates the darkness around you and brings hope for a brighter tomorrow.

La Department of Military

Mays

Oil on a linen canvas
James H Mays
Command Sergeant Major
Louisiana Army National Gaurd
Size 24" x 30"

 

It can be challenging to show the work in progress. Over two months of work has been condensed into about 2 minutes.  
 

Oil painted portrait for the Louisiana Department of Military

Kylie's Portrait

Minor changes are being made to Kylie, and major changes will be in the background.  

Signed, sealed, delivered.

Kylie's photoshoot was done over a year ago, she grew a lot since I last saw her.

Seeing the faces of the family when I deliver a painting is so much fun. I would like my art and my life to brighten the corner of a small place in this world each day. I love painting children, they inspire me with their sweet spirits & purity of heart. May we all become like children with a heart that is pure and full of love to share with others around us.

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Artsy Still Life

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A simple still-life of common objects can reveal the artist's love of color and his passion for the medium he or she uses.  In my studio are many such objects, I see them almost everyday.  In appreciation of the art of creating art this painting came to be.

Studio still life

Oil on Canvas