Freedom of Innocence

'Freedom of Innocence' 

5 x 7 inches oil on masonite

"When we are children we seldom think of the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can. The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind." Patrick Rothfuss

Something that always gets my heart when I paint a child is their innocent, but also very knowing expression. It's something that I think most people don't see, at least I know I don't see it until I spend a few hours studying their eyes. And it's something that never fails to amaze me. 

Listening to: Fall Out Boy

Reading: The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss

Watching: Gold Rush 

Snacking on: see photo below :) 

Greek Yogurt Brulee. Oh. My. Gosh. This is so yummy. :) Here's the recipe I adapted.

 

Read Me A Story SOLD

'Read Me A Story'  SOLD

8 x 10 inches oil on gesso board

I have always been an avid reader. Some of my very favorite memories of my childhood involve my mom and me going to bookstores to track down the latest in a series of books I was reading (always something about horses). Or going to a local used book store (my favorite place) and finding old books that I'd never heard of before. My parents always made sure I had lots of reading material and they never, ever complained when I chose to stay indoors reading instead of outside playing on a bright summer day. 

I wanted to make sure my kids grew up with a love of reading too. I remember reading out loud to my oldest son when I was still pregnant with him. And now both of my boys who are old enough to read LOVE reading, and the littlest loves being read to. We listen to audio books in the car wherever we go, they love story time at bedtime (well, the younger two anyway, the oldest prefers his own books now), and after they've fallen asleep at night and I go to check on them it's very common for me to have to take a book, and a flashlight, out of little boy arms that were too sleepy to put them away. 

This is my middle boy, when he was about five (he's eight now), looking through one of his favorite books, "The Hiccupotamus" by Aaron Zenz. 

We read it so many times that he could read it along with me before he even learned how to read. His favorite line, which always resulted in lots of laughter was this one: 

"There was a hippopotamus

who hiccupped quite-a-lotamus. 

And every time he got'emus. . . 

He'd fall upon his bottomus."

Admit it, you lol'd didn't you? Me too. He he. ;)

A Kiss On The Nose - sold

'A Kiss On The Nose' 

5 x 7 inches SOLD

colored pencil on Ampersand Pastelbord

I hope you'll excuse this post that is all about the feelings of my heart right now. 

Lately I have been overwhelmed with melancholy when I think of all my kids growing up. I know I shouldn't. That's my job as a parent right? To prepare them to leave home and live happy, successful lives as good men. Of course I love them no matter what stage of life they are in. But there's something so very precious about these early years when our bond is so strong and we are each others whole world. 

So, the only way I know how to express those feelings is through art. I've spent a lot of time looking through photos and shedding a few tears at the years that are gone. I don't know how to not feel this way. I love being their mom so much. I love how close we are. I hope things always stay this way. But I know things always change. At least a little bit. 

All I can do is love the moment, the season, that we're in and try to remember every single detail. And not mourn it's passing when little hands grow big. :) 

"This curious fact of life: that when parents are old and their children grown up, the grown-up children are not the persons they formerly were; that their former selves have wandered away, never to return again, save in dream-glimpses of their young forms that tarry a moment and gladden the eye, then vanish and break the heart."  - Mark Twain

Her Soul is in Her Eyes SOLD

'Her Soul is in Her Eyes'

6" x 6" watercolor on paper SOLD

"Your eyes-- your soul is there, but the rest of you is still so undefined. That's the beauty of childhood. The eyes show everything you've seen so far, but the rest of you is still so open to possibility, to whatever you might become.”
― Bree Despain, The Dark Divine

There was something in this girl's eyes that instantly drew me to her. Something I can't quite put into words. But the quote I found, says a lot of it I think. :) This painting had a very long "ugly" stage. I really thought I'd have to trash it, but then at the end I was able to turn it around. Now this painting is one of my personal favorites. A good way to start the year right?

Photo reference by Tracie76Stock, thank you!

Last Sunday was my middle child's 8th birthday. :) I had my husband take this picture of us, and my heart melted when I saw this look on his face. The same one he had when he was a toddler tugging on my pants and asking me 'I wanna hold you' (how he used to ask me to pick him up and hold him).

My boys are out of school until Monday and we have been pretty much staying in our jammies, playing games, and eating treats all week long. It's been awesome. I'll be sad to see it end. :(

This painting is 1/30 for the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. Onward to the next! Huzzah!!

And in case you missed my last post click here for details on how you could win a custom portrait painted by me.