Indian Detour Couriers

I have started a painting based on this old photo.

The Indian Detour Couriers were accomplished young women that were hired to guide tours through New Mexico, I am quite fascinated by their stories. Check out their history here:  http://books.google.ca/books?id=jzR_PtaFNFoC&pg=PA111&lpg=PA111&dq=indian+detour+courier&source=bl&ots=m3OI3nUps6&sig=zHrTE8tgk4JhcW0QgBm2nvIznvc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=jhS_UpaLE9PdoAThjoHwAQ&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=indian%20detour%20courier&f=false
I think I would really have wanted to be a courier!

The first thing I did was drop one figure. I don't like their faces. I may knock back the santa fe logo and Indian detour images although I would like to keep them for the historic reference. I am, as usual, letting the source photo influence me rather too much but I hope to move beyond that. We will see. Could end up being a big old paint-over.

Beach Buddies

Beach Buddies  24x24

This painting was based on an old photo. I was interested in the affection between the woman and girl. The girl's parents passed away and she was raised by her Aunt and Uncle. The girl appeared to be happy and outgoing in all the old photos, quite the apple of her adopted parents eye. I'm not sure if people understand that they are wearing old turn-of-the-century bathing outfits but I hope the affection comes across.

The picnic princess

I saw this girl at a Canada Day picnic a year or two ago and like casual "royal" image.

Little Miss Sunshine

This little girl had a lemonade stand last summer. I was impressed with the outfit she chose.

I sent her and the "forest nymph" off to Arts on the Edge. It is a juried show in Kimberley that has a decent amount of prize money. I might get lucky.

Doreen's Team

A photo of a 1938 girl's hockey team was the inspiration for the reprise of this painting. It was commissioned by the grandson of the girl on the left. They made their own fun.

A new beginning

I had a person request this painting. I painted this image a couple of years ago, but a relative would like another one. It is interesting going back and trying to recreate the photo but in a new way. I have a lot more to think about now than then.

Dangerous Tea

Just so you know I'm not totally slacking off, I have been painting. I thought the model looked as though she were planning something sinister, so she has become a spy. The books in the background are all famous spy novels. Would you like to have tea with her?

They wore Roses in their Hair

For whatever reason, this painting is hard to photograph. I may drag it outside and try again.

Ataraxis

The same pose as yesterday but with a different painting approach.

Repose

A young dancer taking a break. This will be going to Kimberley for the Art of Dance Show.

Home: exploring Their Roots

This was my second entry for the House and Home show. When, I think of home (and Christmas) I think of my parents and the farmlands of my youth. They live just in my memory now, but what good memories.

In 2008, I took my daughters back to visit Illinois and their frail grandpa. It was a great trip and I'm so glad we went. They are not thrilled by the prairie (they are definitely mountain girls). My younger daughter made the comment that she didn't know people still lived like that (re: farmers..the US is still made up of lots of farmpeople, at least, in the midwest). Most Canadians seem to buy that TV crap that we all live like New Yorkers or are LA socialites.

I spent hours driving miserable winter roads in crappy condition so that I could deliver 5 paintings to a couple of galleries. I'm feeling hard done by so I'm going to work out and then walk the dog in the fresh snow.

Showing Off

Teens on the Beach in summer.

The problem with green!

I had to go back and revisit this painting. It just wasn't working in the original colors. Green just never seems sucessful for me. I'm still not sure that it works that well as a painting. There are two lessons here. One, don't get rapped up in your resource photo. It is just there to get you started. Two, watch out for emotional attachments. I love this painting because it is a silly moment in the lives of my daughters more so than it is a good painting. But, I can live with that!

Aliens

My girls and I stopped in Hope BC to check out the totem pole park and the gazebo. When I asked them to pose they assumed the flying birdman posture. I have always loved this photo, it makes me giggle. It also makes me think of the big UFO in "Encounters of the Third Kind" hence the title "Aliens".

I am desperately trying to get this painting and another ready to drop off for a show tomorrow! How do I always manage to run out of time!?