Detour! Paris!!

Well looks like my butterflies are going to have to wait a few weeks. I got two new commissions this week that need to be completed ASAP. One is a mural for a nursery and the other is a painting of a Paris street scene. I think I will do a series of work in progress photos of the Paris painting. It will be very detailed and colorful. Here is the initial (very) rough sketch...


Starting to rough in the canvas...


Didn't like the perspective on the small background buildings so I made them bigger.


Adding some detail to buildings. Also changed the curve of the street so street light can be added.


Adding more details, tower appears somewhat crooked...


Didn't like how dark the foreground was so I added light to the windows of flower shop. Straightened out the eiffel tower also. Almost finished now...


Detail added to Anna's Cafe building, windows still need work. Chalked in rest of details, may add more people, not sure yet if it's needed.


Finished except for girl with poodle and other people if client wants them. Waiting to hear back.


I added some people. I also changed the sign color on the florist shop.


More details added. People at cafe now. People still need some shading.


Finished!

Butterflies

Ok, I am really excited. I have new paints called "interference" paints. They change color like mother of pearl depending on the angle you view them from. I am going to use them to paint a new series of butterflies. The colors are so vibrant, I can't wait to start! I haven't been this excited about a new painting since my first nest. Here are some inspiration photos I found...

Introducing Myself

OK, so here goes...my first blog. I don't have a clue if anyone will be interested in reading these, but I figure it can't hurt to get my thoughts down. Maybe I will learn something about myself through this process. At any rate, I am going to try to chronicle my adventures in creating art. It is sometimes frustrating and other times truly rewarding. I am blessed to be able to stay at home and "play". No matter how many times I might complain about the creative process driving me batty, painting is a gift and I don't want to sound like I take it for granted.

I guess I should introduce myself to those who are reading this and don't know me. My name is Angela Anderson and I am an artist. I have been married for 20 years now to my high school sweetheart, and biggest supporter, Mark. He and I have 3 boys, the oldest of which will be graduating from high school this May (Yikes!). Our middle son will be driving soon (there goes our car insurance again!) and our youngest son is in first grade. I could do a whole blog on him alone! He is a little artist himself and a total rascal too. Our house is also home to two cats, a dog and a fish. In the summer we also host caterpillars and frogs. I will post photos sometime of our yearly butterfly metamorphosis. It is so much fun.

"Scooter" our black, male schnoodle (schnauzer/poodle) puppy is the newest member of the family. Cashmere (our white, prissy, indoor kitty) is his girlfriend. They are so cute together. And Oliver, our outdoor (indoor only to eat & sleep) grey tabby tomcat barely tolerates the two of them. Cashmere uses the fish's tank as a drinking bowl. I have to keep my studio door closed or both of the cats will sneak in and drink my dirty paint water! Gross and probably not very healthy for them either! It's not like they don't have a full bowl in the kitchen! I mention the animals because I am SURE I will be talking about them disrupting things in the future.

Our family are born-again Christians. We attend a non-denominational, charismatic church called Fellowship of Christians. I help out with our women's bible study and fine art ministries there. So between church activities, kid's activities (soccer, football, track, band, etc.), taking care of the house and pets, keeping up with friendships, and my career, things are never boring around our home! Through it all, Jesus is at the center of our lives, and bringing honor to him in everything I do is my goal.

God bless you and keep you, Angela