Catherine Listens To The Ominous Ring, oil on canvas, 12"x16". For sale on etsy.
There's nothing quite like the ring of a rotary phone to send chills up my spine. I attribute it to a lot of older horror and suspense films. This painting is another in my 'Black Walnut Manor' series and there should be more plot development later in the week.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW PAINTING ON ETSY.
Nothing fills me with more fear than when I have to paint a child. Children are strange creatures with very large heads and extremely soft underdeveloped features. I rarely ever do commissioned portrait work mainly because of a horrible experience that I had several years ago when a client asked me to paint her three sons. They were cute, the client was nice and the photo that I had was pretty decent so I happily went off and worked on it for about a month. When the unveiling came, the look of disappointment on her face made my knees buckle. It was their heads she explained- they were too big. I took a look at the photo and compared it to the painting and explained that it was exactly the same proportioning. She agreed, but had assumed that I would have corrected their imperfection. But then they would look like little men. We have never spoken since.
I should mention that I based Greer on my niece Leanna and there is a good chance that perhaps when my brother and sister-in-law see this they might have a problem with the size of her head as well. However, a pirate hat can hide a multitude of imperfections....
Greer Plans Her Next Adventure (Black Walnut Manor series), 9x12, oil on canvas. Sold.
Max And His Matinee Idol Good Looks, (Black Walnut Manor series), 6x6, oil on canvas. Sold.
It seems Catherine has a love of shoes, books, and perhaps someone special. She's also not too tidy which is something I can really relate to.
Catherine's Cluttered Room. Sold.
Under Her Bed. Sold.
Lovesick. Sold.
It was rather difficult working out what Silke would have in her study since she is an inventor and the options are limitless. I opted for a yo-yo and a cuckoo clock (which got a little cut-off in the photo). I know, it makes little sense. It also looks like her taste leans a little to the Dorothy Draper school of design . Hugo is more restrained with his horsey painting and English traditionalism.
I should also mention that Canada Post is back to work which means I can stop tearing my hair out. John and I carted off a big bin plus two armfuls of prints this morning - very happy to have a functioning postal system again. We held the line up and had a few dirty looks from those stuck behind us but it was worth it. There will still be delays though until the back log has been dealt with, but at least the mail is moving!
Silke's Study, 9"x12", oil on canvas. Sold.
Hugo's Reading Room, 8"x8", oil on canvas. Sold.
Left: At Long Last Max Returns To The Manor In A Yellow Taxi After Studying Abroad. 5"x7", oil on canvas. Sold.
Right: Catherine Decides To Get Some Fresh Air And Exercise, 9"x12", oil on canvas. Sold.
Initially I was going to call the son 'Gable', but since most people thought that the father 'Hugo' looked so much like Clark Gable, it seemed like overkill. So, he's been renamed Max and will eventually show his face.
And an update on our lovely postal strike. It looks like they are now being legislated back to work by the government so the piles of orders that I have neatly stacked up should be shipping out later this week. It's been a very stressful week and I can't say I've ever paid so much attention to the news before.
