Happy Birthday Mary!

So it's been about 6 months since my last blog post! I figured it was about time to provide some sort of an update on the projects I have been working on since March. It also seems appropriate having just celebrated the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, as she has been the focus of the artwork that I've been making. 

Since my last post I have finished 2 commissions (one was technically a wedding present so I don't think that really counts) of our Lady. The first was "Our Lady of Joy." Below is the finished painting. 

I made some prints of this once it was done. I actually had a considerable amount of trouble adjusting the photograph of the print to get the right contrast and to get the colors just right - staying as true to the original painting as possible. The halos kept looking too orange, or too washed out. The painting was done for my wife's aunt, for her birthday. It was a real honor getting to work on something for someone who has always exhibited the same generosity of spirit as Our Lady. 

I also thought I would show for fun, the joys and the challenges of working surrounded by our wonderful children. I think these pictures pretty much say it all. This is mid photo-shoot where my wife (who was pregnant at the time) was posing and trying to corral the other squirrelly little model. 

He was fascinated by the camera. Go figure. I pray that it will be a short-lived obsession. Cindy as always, was my willing model and a real sport.

I also completed a painting as a wedding present for some good friends of ours. It's a Madonna and child, Here's the charcoal sketch and the final painting side by side. 

You can see the slight adjustments between the drawing and the final painting, most obviously in the faces of both figures. I think I actually like Mary's face more in the drawing. 

Let me know what you think and please contact me directly if you'd like to buy any prints of either of these pieces.