This Big
This is a 9″x12″ (2″ deep) mixed media painting on wood.
I painted this same image last year, an ACEO. It may have been the first ACEO I did. A couple of weeks ago I was going through my images, looking for inspiration, and I came across this photo again. It was taken when Imogen was almost three, I was pregnant for Scarlett. I think I asked her how big she was and she stood as tall as she could and stretched out her little neck. At three, it was really important to be ‘this big’. Come to think about it, I guess it is still important at six. Imogen had a big cry the other day because I made her get the size 13 shoes instead of the (big girl) size ones. Let me tell you, the 13s were even a little on the big side but she cried and cried and said ‘I am just a baby!’. It was hard not to laugh, if she could only realized that in a few years she will be wishing her feet were smaller so she could fit in all those fabulous size six shoes on the sales rack!
ACEO Easter Bonnet #2
This is a new 2.5″x3.5″ mixed media painting I did today.
This piece is available on etsy.
Here she is. What can I say ? She was so amazing! Look at those lids!Creating ACEOs With Planet Norwood
The other day I volunteered at Planet Norwood, an after school care program that my daughter Imogen attends. We created ACEO (art collections, originals and editions).
I was a bit worried at first.
I really resisted telling them what to paint. I wanted this project to be about creating there own ‘thing’ but the initial blank stares made me panic a little. (I admit, I started to sweat ). But then, the light went on for one and then another and then another until they were all working away on their tiny little works of art.
It was amazing, they all did totally different things. Pencil drawings, paint, collage, you name it. Many children that don’t even do crafts, worked on this with me, cool huh?
I also brought plastic sleeves for them to put their final piece in. That really got them excited. They all worked extra hard to finish what they were doing just so they would be able to put in a plastic sleeve. It made me realize that, like framing art, it took the art that they were doing to another level. It raised it to something more precious, a keepsake, something important. I don’t know if I have ever realized how important that is to a kid. Oh, the power of one plastic sleeve!
This is an ACEO that my five year old daughter Imogen did. 
ACEO Torrent/Greta Garbo
This painting is of the wonderful Greta Garbo in the silent film ‘Torrent’ from 1926. Don’t you just love the black and white striped fur coat? So art deco! It is kind of a sad tale, giving Garbo lots of reason to lift those heavy lidded eyes to the heavens. This still is of the final shot in the film.
This painting is available on ebay
IF ‘Climbing’- Watching The High Wire Act
Even climbing the ladder gave Circus Girl butterflies.
IF ‘Pale’- Albino Girl
You have to admit, you don’t get much paler than this!
ACEO Willows Beach
At the end of September we went to Victoria. September weather is usually pretty reliable and this was no exception. We had a few beach days with the girls. Scarlett is totally into the beach right now. She would throw rocks in the water and scoop water into her sand bucket forever.
This little ACEO is of Scarlett sitting on one of my favorite beaches in Victoria; Willows. In the summer you can get crinkle fries from the little tea house and eat them right on the beach. On a rainy day, you can sit inside and have a cup of tea. It is nothing fancy, it is charity run, but it is one of my most favorite things
SOLD
The Albino Girl
Another circus image. Step right up and see THE ALBINO GIRL! I thought her ghost like appearance was fitting giving that it is almost Halloween. I think she is beautiful, even if she is a little bit spooky.
SOLD
Victoria Rain
This is an original 2.5″x3.5″ mixed media piece on 100% rag paper.
I guess Victoria was on my mind today. I miss it, what can I say …
rain and all.
Imogen Harlequin
I did this painting of Imogen. Like the larger version, I can’t seem to part with it. I put it up on Etsy and then took it off. It is hard to part with your paintings. Especially ones of your children. I really regret selling a few already but that is why you do them isn’t it? To send them out in the world. They can really become a huge weight when they are hanging around the house staring at you. You always remember the ones you sell a little more fondly than the ones you see everyday. I wonder if our recollection of them is better than the actual painting? I hope not. That could be pretty disappointing during a retrospective. YIKES!
