5:52

Purple Butterflies
12” x 12”  Acrylic on Canvas

Pink, purple, nor the combination of the two have ever been my favorite colors.  And you can ask my friends, Jen and Stacey, if I like butterflies.  Not even when Lisa Frank was popular in elementary school did I like butterflies.  What is the inspiration behind this painting then?  

It’s my neighbor who had a little baby girl last weekend.  She chose purple and brown butterfly decor with a tad bit of pink for her baby’s room.  For that reason I am happy with the finished product.  I struggled with a lot of the thoughts I mentioned in my first post and hesitated to finish the painting (I almost scrapped it when I was 15 minutes from finishing it).

I was inspired by the person more than the art, that’s the reason.

:: Rachel 

[Note:  If you’re wondering if I violated my own stipulations I set in the first post, the answer is “no” because she didn’t ask me to do it.  I was “inspired.”]

4:52

Christmas Yarn Ornament Wreath.
21” diameter

Late or early.  This may have been a project I started in November.  Obviously it was not a priority.  I had some yarn my great-grandma gave me.  Some suggested I knit something, but I’m not too passionate about knitting, so a wreath it was.

I got the idea from a wreath Starbucks hung on their doors during Christmas 2008.  I just hope I still like it next Christmas.  For now, I want to hang it up, but it will probably find a nice spot in storage for the next 10 months.  Either way, it feels great to have one more project completed!

:: Rachel

3:52

Cannot Be Hidden.   
24” x 36” Acrylic on Canvas

Something really stood out to me last Sunday.  It doesn’t make sense to hide light.  I made a small sketch during a message at our church (so inspired that I doodled in church).

Here’s the first sketch that progressed into the painting above.

:: Rachel

2:52

The Many Expressions.  
8” x 10” Graphite on Paper

I won’t write too much about this piece for fear of ruining the experience for those of you who still enjoy picture books, etc.  I have to say something.  This was drawn from a photo I took of my nephew when he was 21 months old.  He has such a range of expressions from contemplative, to thrilled, to the “what?” look.  I love this little guy and his expressions.  

Here’s the original image…

Now I want to paint a picture of this image too because black & white does not do his rosy red cheeks and bright blue eyes justice!

:: Rachel