Island Princess

Leilani, Island Princess.  24 x 30, Acrylic
Available in my etsy shop

I've been super busy painting, with several new pieces finished.  Here's the first...This needs a home in an island style bungalow...

Sister Dance

Sister Dance - 8x10, Mixed Media on Canvas

Here's my latest painting, Sister Dance.  I'm in love with the little piece of vintage music that I've added to the older girl's bow.  For some reason it feels a like it's a little secret, even though it's right there in plain sight.  Just makes me smile inside a little.

I really made an effort to make this piece very texturey.  Is that a word?  No. Ok, full of texture, this one is.  (Now I sound like Yoda.)

Painted Ladies - Ellie

Ellie - 8x10, pen and watercolor

Painted Ladies Series #4

Grandmother B

Berdena Ruby - 12x12 - Acrylic

I've added another painting to my Ancestry project....this is my maternal grandmother, Berdena Ruby Wagner.

Mary Jane

About a year ago I started a project I called "Illustrating My Ancestors".  I had planned to begin making some paintings and illustrations of some of my grandparents.  Typical of my M.O., I did a bit of work on the project and then got distracted - "Squirrel!" - by a million other things.  Alas, during the last year I have done little to further my ancestry project.  But I'm happy to report that as of today, I've added another painting to this little project.

So, please let me introduce you to Mary Jane Story Proctor (1826-1917),  my 2nd Great Grandmother.  She was married to Daniel Proctor (his second wife), and was the mother to nine children, and 4 step-childern.  The only good source photo I have of Mary Jane is typical of photos taken back around the turn of the century, featuring a stern, serious, unsmiling countenance.  Although, I can imagine that mothering 13 kids might also contribute to such a look...!

I decided to portray her a little younger, a little bit softer than that photo.  I like how this one turned out.  Now I just wish I could travel back in time to meet her, and perhaps a few of her kids.

Mary Jane Story Proctor - by Alisa Proctor, 12x12, Acrylic

That Green! - Color A Day #27

Image via Wikipedia

Today I was blowing time on the eye-candy addictive-ness that is Pinterest....(stop by and say Hi! and, see related links below)....when I saw a painting (by Chinese Artist Xiao Jin 肖進) that stopped me dead in my tracks.

I mean, that face!  That Green!  So bold, bright.  Great work.  Great color.
There it is: Color A Day #27...That Green!

Face No. 2 by Xiao Jin 肖進

 Self-portrait...at age 6.

Related articles

• To Pinterest or not to Pinterest! (mynakedbokkie.com)
• My Favorite Pinterest Pages (homedesign.marthastewart.com)
• Pinterest - Are You There Yet? (actionbites.blogspot.com)
• Pinterest is the new black! (patranila.blogspot.com)
• Pinterest Can Grab You And Swallow You Up (newenglandsnarrowroad.wordpress.com)

Maya Angelou - Shero Portrait in honor of Black History Month

February is, of course, Black History Month.  So, here is a portrait of one of the people I most admire in the world.  I devoured her autobiography series as a teenager in the eighties, nibbled at her poetry throughout the years, got goosebumps when she read her piece "On the Pulse of the Morning" at Clinton's inauguration, and was brought to tears by the tenor of her voice when I saw her in person at a lecture a few years ago.  Yes, to borrow her phrase,  it is safe to say she is a "shero" of mine.