Hibiscus Burst

work in progress

Just started this one yesterday. Not entirely sure where I'm going to take it from here. So far I like the lightness of it. 

Poppies, 1 and 2

These are paintings I just finished for a close friend of mine. She had been dealing with some health problems this past year, and I wanted the paintings to evoke feelings of hope, change and growth. These photos I took of my paintings came out a little dark.  The paintings are actually much whiter. The lighting in my art room is terrible for taking photos!!!

Coral 2

This painting and the other in the previous post represent my happy place. Secretive, shining, full of life, fish, coral, and algae, these are little bits of paradise. This is the domain of a mermaid.

Coral

My craziness

 

Swim towards the light

Swim little fish.

Swim through the coral and caves

Jump through the lip of a wave

Follow that current for days

Till you hit light.

Scuba Man

I started and finished this painting today.  Trying to pump out as many ideas as possible.  I actually like the way this painting turned out.   It really speaks to me because I'm obsessed with the ocean, and oceanic life.  I only added the scuba guy last.  I wanted to create movement, swimming upwards, surfacing.  I thought the scuba man put things into context.  Maybe too literal for some, but I  like the scuba guy.

An odd couple and a trapped cat

I was fortunate enough to visit Mexico city for Day of the Dead last year. The entire celebration was  really inspiring.

There were so many things to look at; people dressed up as calaveras, alters for the dead set up along the pedestrian walkways, food stands selling all kinds of sweets  decorated for the  event.

This was by far my favourite holiday I've ever experienced.  

When I returned home from my trip, I started drawing skull heads, and skeletons.  I kind of went calavera crazy.  These are two paintings I did during that time.  The first one just cracks me up.  The wedding couple looks like might have regrets about what they have got themselves into.   Let's face it, marriage can be really frightening! 

I might get it printed into funny wedding cards.

This painting was inspired by some figurines I  had seen in Mexico city.  I loved their painted little faces.  So this painting is a family of calaveras. They are luring a dead cat with some old fish bones.   I never figured out why they are luring the cat. Do they want to eat it?  He has no meat, so why would they?  Maybe he's a pet? Looks like the little girl wants the cat as a pet.   The one thing that keeps me guessing are the faces on the fisherman and the mother. They look upset by the whole thing.  The grandma looks a bit evil as well. I've never concluded what the scenario here really is. I'd rather the viewer make up his own story.

Here's a photo I took in the cemetary in Xochimilco during Day of the Dead.  I love this photo because it really captures the mood  in the cemetary.  The man's painted face is perfect in this photo.