Painting #1

 "Wonderment" 4.5'X4.5' Acrylic and Oil on canvas.

This was one of the first paintings I created that I really felt was my creative work and not completed for a class project or grade. Completed in 2000, it is the oldest painting that I will still show today. My painting style and personal interests have changed quite a bit since then. I would never paint skin tones in this manner, and there are many other things I would change if I were to paint this now.  

The image itself was from a photograph that I took of my young daughter. It was not a random snapshot that I thought might work, but taken from a series of photos that I composed from the painting. We were heading in for dinner after a day at the beach. She was cold and wet and caked with sand, but her bedraggled appearance inspired me.  She was not very happy with me dragging her back out to the beach, but nonetheless she had fun striking various poses as the sun set.

​If you can create an image that captures the viewers attention and can hold it for a few moments then you've really got something to work with.  You can have the most beautifully painted image, but if no one is looking at it then you need to ask yourself what you have created it for. Not that it is worthless, but seriously ask, "Why have I created this artwork?" Do you want it admired by the general public? Perhaps you've created a painting to only attract the attention of other painters.  This painting of mine would probably not be admired by other painters to a great degree, but it still receives praise when shown, which I believe speaks to the power of the image. 
To purchase a reproduction of this work visit my online store at Society6.com