Monday, May 14, 2012

Rosy Cheeks and Birthday Cupcakes

'Rosy Cheeks'
6" x 6" acrylic on masonite

Today I felt like doing an acrylic painting. So I did. Because it's my birthday and you're supposed to get what you want on your birthday right?? ;)

My goal is to feel as comfortable at painting portraits with acrylics as I do with watercolors. I don't want them to look the same, and really they can't just because of how different acrylics and watercolors are. But I want to feel confident in my ability to handle this medium so I can be expressive. Every painting gets me closer to that goal.

Today I found it incredibly satisfying to feel, for just a moment, that hum of the creative groove when everything just flows and comes together exactly as you wanted it to. You know what I mean? Yeah, it's awesome.


And my sweet family made me cupcakes for my 31st birthday today. :) Big ones, pink ones, little ones, blue ones, chocolate ones, strawberry ones, sprinkled ones, and GIGANTIC ones.

What else can a girl ask for? Nothing that's what. I've got it all. Time to paint, a loving family, cupcakes, and just. . . life. It's been a good day. No, scratch that, a great day. I hope yours was too my dear friends.  

Huzzah!!

22 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday, Crystal!! The work is lovely. I'm not familiar with acrylics. Hope you'll achieve the goal.
    Best wishes, Sadami

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  2. Je vous souhaite un très joyeux anniversaire ma chère Cristal !
    13 bougies pour 31 je veux bien qu'on fasse l'inverse pour moi aussi!!!...
    J'aime l'expression de ce petit bonhomme... belle peinture.
    gros bisous

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  3. How I wish I could just come down and give you a tight birthday hug.
    I know you have already had a great day. But I wish you have a great year too.
    And how bold you have been in this painting. I am sure you would have had a lot of fun doing it.

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  4. Happy birthday, hon. Hope you have an extra special year, too :)

    Love the bold strokes on this portrait! Great job :) xx

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  5. Wish you the happiest birthday, Crystal.Your portrait are full of life, whatever the medium.Keep going!

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  6. Happy birthday for yesterday, Crystal. You're shaming me: working in other mediums. I'm going to have to try this painting lark at some stage ... just finding a spare moment would help!

    Love the picture, it say's CC all over it.

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  7. Glad to hear you had a great B-Day doing the things you love with the people you love :-)
    Wonderful work with those acrylics, just love the rosy cheeks and the play of light on his face

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  8. Happy Birthday, Crystal! Love the new painting. May your day be filled with magic and four-leaf clovers. :)

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  9. Happy Birthday Crystal! So glad you had the perfect day and topped off be the perfect painting, i love it! (still haven't gotten to my acrylic ...yet!)

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  10. Oh wow, Crystal! Happy Birthday!!!!! Had I have known I would have loved to have sent you a card, so instead you will have to settle for a huge squeezy virtual birthday hug! And all those cup-cakes? Are you really going to eat all those?? There must be 31 altogether right? Well, I will look forward to receiving one in a Jiffy Bag, lol ;0) As for being a natural with Acrylics - well you already are! The same goes for every other medium you try. You are just a natural Artist full stop. And the painting is of course fantastic :0)

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  11. HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Crystal!!!! This is a beautiful acrylic painting...your work is wonderful no matter what medium you use!!! Have a great day....

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  12. Happy birthday Crystal, and I am looking forward to be able to paint so bold and yet it looks so easy and lifelike.

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  13. Happy birthday to you, Crystal! Sounds like a great day was had between the painting and the homemade cupcakes - what a treat :D.

    This painting may not look the same as your watercolors, but it's still clearly identifiable as painted by *you*. Acrylics hate me and watercolors scare me, so hats off to you for being accomplished at both mediums!

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  14. magnifica tu obra. es una gozada contemplar tus obras.
    enhorabuena por tantos buenos trabajos.
    un saludo desde España.

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  15. Wish you a very happy birthday! Your family made your day so special. Getting back into the creative groove must have felt like the best gift ever.
    Have a wonderful day!

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  16. Happy birthday, crystal! (Now that I know you are two years younger than me ;-) I love it that you never stop experimenting and exploring! I see so many people dabbing in multiple media and all of them just look exactly like each other -- you are so brave in always pushing beyond the comfort zone! I really need to learn from you.

    ... On a side note -- how are you going to finsh all those cupcakes?

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  17. Happy Birthday!!! Yippeeee! The painting looks great, but I may be a little partial to the cupcake image! :) . . . Seriously, you're handling of the acrylics is just as beautifully spontaneous and fresh as any of your watercolors. It appears transparent and full of light. Really lovely. And keep on celebrating with that special family of yours -- polish off those cupcakes!

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  18. OMG, I missed your birthday!!! I wish you a belated B-day. I ma sorry I missed reading your blog yesterday. But judging by the candle-light and cupcakes, you celebrated your day very well!

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  19. I am extending your celebration --Happy Birthday and wishes for a wonderful year ahead ! :) Love those expressive strokes on your portrait!

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  20. Belated birthday wishes from me too Crystal. That's a great portrait, as always. ;-)

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  21. Such a great post:)) You should paint your cupcakes:) I admire you for painting in acrylic, no easy task! It has a more impressionistic feel that is very nice!! Happy Happy Birthday, again:))))

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  22. Me encanta este retrato, es maravilloso, en realidad me gustan todos!! :) pintas con una técnica muy personal, tu trabajo es increíble, enhorabuena!

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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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