The Shotgun Anniversary

Few people embody the true spirit of individualism and diversity like this unlikely couple. One comes from Florida, the other from the Pacific NW…their ages, background and races are completely opposite but the sincere devotion they share is without equal!

These two are fabulous people with sincere and warm hearts. Ruby is FLAMBOYANT and loves to wrap her head in brightly colored fabrics, armor her wrists with layers of bracelets and drape enough necklaces for 10 ladies around her neck. She says that quite often strangers will ask her what African country she is from. With a light-hearted chuckle she chooses to get a kick out of this response rather than take offense!

Seen from behind, Lowell’s long gray hair reveals dread locks and the full beard in front along with the festive hats he likes to wear often give people the idea he is caught in a 1960’s time warp. Again….they laugh about the response the pair of them inspire! I get the biggest kick out of seeing them drive up in their sporty little convertible, top down and the back seat commandeered by their 100+ lb. black German Shepherd. What a sight!

This summer Ruby and Lowell will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary. Several times through out the history of their love affair they have posed for those old time saloon scenes of bygone days. So to commemorate their special milestone they came to me wanting to keep the tradition alive but with a twist. You can see the result! 

The Guitar Hero Graduate

Family and achievers are the theme this month or so it seems. Brandon is my nephew who has been living with us temporarily while he gets started in his career in the city after graduating college a year ago. I came up with his character because it is a subject often discussed among parents how boys are so different than girls and video games are the favorite culprit. Many times boys pursue these games with fervor and obsession, in some cases to the detriment of their academic pursuits.  With Brandon the truth wasn’t so simple. He graduated valedictorian of his high school class of 6 but proved that he had the chops at university by making the dean’s list all but one quarter of his college career. After getting his degree last spring he did what so many other young graduates are struggling with in this tough economic climate ~ he landed a job! Yet he can still play those games like a pro…. 

The Type "A" Angler

John is my big brother and we are the first born in a family of 5. We were each other’s best friend from the get go and remain close today. Coming from a family of high achievers and extremely competitive athletes made for some very interesting family dynamics! My siblings and I tease John with the nickname “Golden Boy” sarcastically delivered with affection and pride. From a very young age he applied himself to his studies and career with a single-minded purpose that paid off with an early retirement that now allows him to pursue his chief passions: fly fishing and golf. I often assure my “victims” that the characters I choose for them are not meant as definitions of who they are. Usually there is some element of them the photo but it is meant tongue-in-cheek. With John’s personae, it is entirely TRUE! 

Oops! Forgot these pics

 

These are the two portraits that go along with my last post

A Youthful pair of FACEs

Painting children as part of my project poses plenty 

of challenges...chiefly that they do not sit still for the portrait

forcing me to use a photograph.

Conversely this gives me a chance to paint unusual

facial expressions not easily held in person for long.

I took advantage of this with my niece Dain.

As a child I was an rabid Tomboy with one exception....

I LOVED BARBIE DOLLS!! still do :)

Dain is a girl after my heart with her plethora of Barbies.

Most of them have been given to her as hand me downs or gifts

and believe me...she plays with each and every one!

So it was with nostalgic delight that we set up her 

photo by transferring a trunk load of Barbies onto her back patio.

My Grandson also came along that day for his photo.

I had envisioned him holding some cotton candy in one hand

but was disappointed to find that it no longer comes on a cone...only in a bag.

(What?!?! Some things should not be messed with!!)

He was chomping at the bit to play with that Barbie car

so when I called it a wrap he wasted no time

and soon Barbie and Ken were cruisin' in style!

The Decadent Debutante

Last night I returned from my first ever trip to New Orleans, a city that I have been fascinated with ever since I read my first Anne Rice novel. I loved it! I packed my paints for this trip as I had a session lined up with my friend Holly, who moved there with her husband the year after Katrina. I have known Holly since she was 17 and now….many years later she still exudes a freshness of youth and this is no easy feat in 100 degree heat! Her youthful vitality along with being in a Southern City is why Debutante came to mind.

My husband and I stayed at a place on St. Charles Ave. and we loved our rooms! We could watch the historic streetcars zipping up and down the Ave. and envision the spectacle of the Mardi Gras and Carnival parades from the balcony. Many trees, fences and street wires were still festooned with beads from the most recent parade season. I scouted the perfect location for our photo on one of my morning walks along this route…a decrepit and decayed home of former grandeur that now houses several apartments.  

As we set up to take the photo the door opened and a surly looking man emerged. He eyed us with suspicion and barely grunted a reply when I explained our presence. He shuffled across the sagging weather-beaten floorboards and ensconced himself on the creaking porch swing, promptly lighting up a morning cigar. I had to stifle a laugh since his presence in the background added the perfect touch! I was only sorry that the lighting was not right at that particular moment and we had to return a couple hours later. He was of course gone by then but the light was right and this is the result.