Friday, May 7, 2010

FInished portrait, and I've been tagged


"Joy, unrestrained"
10 x 14 watercolor

     Here it is, all finished. I kind of liked it. Although I always look back on a painting and think I could have done so many things better, or at least differently. But, overall I'm happy with it. And it was just so fun to paint. It really went pretty quickly, which always reminds me of something I read in an art book. This woman who paints portraits was asked how long her portraits took. She said something like the good ones don't take too much time, but the bad ones take FOREVER! I would have to agree with that, for the most part :) Now, I'm wondering what to paint next. . . I have a few ideas, and some drawings started. We'll see :)

     Instead of a question this week I'm going to do this five question/five answer game that my good friend Michelle Teacress, tagged me with. Here goes!

Where were you five years ago?
1. staying at home with my boys, just two of them at the time. Our youngest was just a few months old, so I was short on sleep but long on love :)
2.  My husband had just graduated from college WOO HOO!!!!
3.  We were living in a little basement apartment getting ready to buy our first home.
4.  I was on a total health food kick and was constantly looking for new, healthy recipes that my family would actually eat.
5. I was FINALLY understanding how watercolor worked, and had just completed two portraits that I thought I could actually let other people see.

Where would you like to be five years from now?
1. A signature member of the American Watercolor Society, or at least closer to that than I am now :)
2. Still a stay at home mom
3. Completed not just one, but two marathons (Park City is on my list of must runs!)
4. For those of you that don't know, I'm also a writer, and I would dearly love to be published one day. just to have someone hold my book in their hands. So maybe in five years I'll be published, but maybe I won't. But I will be that much closer to the goal.
5. More confident, and happy with who I am.

What is/was on your to do list today?
1. A bunch of boring housework :(
2. go to the reception for two of my art exhibits
3. play with my kids
4. write something that I feel good about
5. try to shorten the time on my sketches. See how accurate I can get in the shortest amount of time.

What five snacks do you enjoy?
1. Kazoozles (fruit punchy licorice candy, yummy!)
2. Reese's peanut butter cups
3. chocolate chip cookie dough
4. apples with peanut butter
5. red vines

What five things would you do if you were a billionair? (of course I would donate to lots of worthy charities, especially animal rescue, children's hospital and my church. These answers are after all that is done, purely selfish things :)
1. Buy my mom a new house
2. Buy us a larger, newer house with land for a horse
3. hire a maid
4. go on a family vacation to Disneyland. And a trip with just my husband to Fiji.
5. Buy all the books I wanted ( I would have the most awesome library ever!)

     Fun huh? Now, in the true spirit of all good things bloggy, I tag the following people. Who then post the same Q and A on their blog, linking back to me and then tagging more people. If you want, don't feel like you have to. But come on, it's fun :)

Kim from eat, drink, paint
Sujit Sudhi
Kim from under the umbrella
Catie and Stefanie from Run on (yes both of you)
Sandra from Sandraws
Susan Liles
Carrie from Carrie's Creations
Nureeya
Michelle Smith
Carol Blackburn
Arti

     I can't wait to read them guys! Also, if your name's not on this list but you would love to do this then consider yourself tagged. Have a great weekend everyone!

26 comments:

  1. Haha, I like how you said both of us. LOL. I will do it!

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  2. Beautiful painting. I really like it.

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  3. You have indeed captured the twinkle in the eye and the toothless smile so very beautifully!! Great job --this is a winner :)

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  4. I love the lighting! Beautiful!

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  5. Beautiful portrait, the eyes are so expressive.

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  6. This is stunning, Crystal! I've been studying photographs of different light lately (my main character is a photographer), and you've really captured the sunlight so beautifully. Bravo!

    I've been absent from the blog world lately, but am so glad I didn't miss this post. :)

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  7. I think my comment got eaten. :(

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  8. The light is perfect and the harmony of colors between background and the portrait, shows a watercolor master.

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  9. Crystal- This painting looks fabulous! You do lighting so well. There is no doubt in my mind that in 5 years (probably much sooner) you will be a signature member of the AWS. Your work is excellent. Good luck on getting published, too.

    Thanks for the tag. I'll have to think about my answers for a little while. :-)

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  10. Hey Crystal, I agree with Michelle. You'll achieve #1 no problem. And probably #4. Now I have to go check out your other blog.
    And BTW, this piece is absolutely captivating. What a gem (as is the model I'm sure : )! (had to use that exclamation mark : )
    Have a good weekend,
    Kim

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  11. I think you will do a book about painting...

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  12. I have taken my time to comment as I've been waiting to find the time to answer your questions! Haven't had any yet though! I hope to a little later though... Your painting is beautiful - but how could it be anything else with this bundle of joy as the subject?!

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  13. I was sort of waiting for this one.. And this is so great.. The smile of the kiddo's face is joy forever.. And you have asked so many questions this time.. Huh.. Dont know where to start..

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  14. This came out beautifully! So soft, so appropriate for an infant. The light, the shadow, soft and lovingly done. It's such a shame we can't appreciate our work objectively. It's perfect, simply perfect!

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  15. Ooops! and thank you for tagging me! Very interesting questions. i'm gonna make the time to do this! fun! thanks so much!

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  16. Hope you are having a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. I have a question, hope you don't mind. But, when you've finished a water color painting do you spray it with anything to seal it? I thought there was something called "fixative" but not sure if I should invest in a can or not.
    Thanks so much.

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  17. crystal really beautiful ! good luck with all your dreams and goals

    jane

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  18. I got our "present"! Now, I just need to try them. :) THANKS!!

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  19. All right Stefanie! I read it already and I loved it :) Yes now go and enjoy your Kazoozles! You're welcome :)

    Christine, Meera, Elizabeth and Vinayak thank you guys so much! :):):)

    ANISSA!!! I'm so glad to see you, thanks for stopping by! I've missed ya :) And thanks for your kind comments too!

    Julian, thank you so very much. That comment is high praise indeed, thanks my friend :)

    Thanks so much Michelle, your so sweet! But I bet you will be signature then too :)

    Thanks Leia!

    Thank you so much Kim! :)! he, he, he. And thanks for stopping by my other blog too, that was fun!

    Ron, that's a fun idea. Maybe one day huh? Thanks!

    Thanks so much Sandra! And no worries about the questions, if you get to it that's great, but if not that's ok too :)

    You were waiting for this one? Aww thanks Prabal. Maybe you could just pick one of those questions, like what's your fave snack? And you know I found this band I think you would really like, Chevelle. Ever heard of them? Go look up their song, the Red on itunes.

    Thank you very, very much Suzanne! You are the sweetest. And I'm excited to read your answers! Fun!

    Hi Carol! I hope you had a great weekend too. And I know I sent you an email about this already, but I'll answer it here too. I don't use fixative on anything except for charcoal drawings. :)

    Hi Jane! Thanks so much!

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  20. Your title is perfect for this precious bundle of joy. Your masterful handling of light amazes me. You are so great at painting babies and children...not the easiest subjects!
    The sparkle in this little guy's eyes is so delightful.

    Contrats of being chosen for the interview. It was fun getting to know you better. ;)

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  21. The painting has turned out so well!You must be proud of it.Thanks for tagging me..I don't believe I can write so much:D you are so good at it!

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  22. I'm pleased to have stumbled across you're blog and I greatly admire your use of light - it's wonderful! Can't wait to see the finished horse :)

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  23. Dude! I totally posted it! Are you so proud?! ;)
    Love,
    Cate

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  24. Hi Crystal,

    This painting is just fantastic. The eye color, lips of the baby and hair are looking so real. Very nice

    Thanks, Riya

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Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment they really do mean so much to me! Because not all bloggers have their email enabled so I can reply directly through email I will try to reply here in the comments. If I don't please forgive me, life must have been hectic that day! :)) Huzzah!!

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