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| 8×10 watercolor. Baby Obas |
This is my dreaded painting. I’ve had this commission for well over a year and couldn’t bring myself to try to paint it. I had too many fears and doubts about it. I think that in my mind the dread for this painting is the sum dread of me trying to succeed as an artist. As long as I avoided trying to paint this with the possibility of failing I was avoiding possibly failing as a successful artist.
I really believe I’m at a turning point in my career. I’m finally allowing myself to be an artist as an income. I’ve put value to the time that I spend painting. I’ve put a value on my art and let people show their appreciation for it with their purchase. I guess I have a very symbolic little baby here.
The neat thing is that I’ve had this drawn out for months without ever touching it with a brush or color. I finally took some initiative and signed up for an open studio art class. Students bring their own supplies, own projects and the teacher is there for support and a trained eye. My first day of class I was unprepared. I didn’t have another project to work on. Just this drawing that I had no real intention on starting but within 15 minutes of class I decided now was as good as any to start this overdue project. The teacher was a great help and support. She had ideas for shading dilemmas, the coloring of the background, the shape of the baby, etc. By the end of my first 3 hour class I was halfway through this painting that only took me around a year and a half to begin.
I am flying through my projects. I am painting commissions that I have been given this year – granted it was 3 months ago but I’m getting up to date. Today is my last class of the session. I am signed up for the next session and I am on a roll. Nowhere but up. I have so many things to show you.
Here is the original picture I was working with. I don’t like to copy perfect photos. If it ain’t broke. . . As you can see, the mother’s hand is cropped and we wanted a naked baby and no pacifier. Unfortunately, I don’t care for the mouth on the painting. I think the angle of the face slowly changed in my painting and something is skewed. It’s still a cute enough pic and I won’t bother critiquing it here.
On a bummer note: I brought this painting to show it to my client just yesterday. It has, of course, been so long, that she completely forgot about the commission or even the subject of it. I don’t know what happened but somewhere between the car and the Panera Bread I LOST my painting. It is nowhere to be found. I’ve checked our cars, my house, the parking lots, called stores. The client never even got to see the original. At least I had the foresight to take a picture before I gave it to her. So, if there are any Raleigh residents who would like to inquire at the Briar Creek shopping center. Please help. Please repost this as much as you can. Maybe the internet will work miracles and I can get the original back. I’m offering a reward and a print in the same size of the picture and my eternal gratitude. This is their first baby and what a sweet picture for this family to have! No, I don’t want to repaint it. I’m done, I’m moving on. Thank you for any help in finding it. I’ll keep you posted.