This sweet little commission was a Valentine’s Day Gift.
I painted it from a photo of the sunset on Turks and Caicos.
The couple sat on those benches to watch the sunset and then look for shooting stars (that is why two shooting stars were added in the upper corner). The sweetest gift I have ever painted.
Sunset on Turks and Caicos
Oil on Board
12 x 16, Commission
One of the Oxford Dictionaries lists of 2016 words of the year is hygge.
Pronounced “hoo-guh ” it’s a Danish word derived from a sixteenth-century Norwegian term, hugga, which means “to comfort” or “to console.”
In Danish it is defined as “a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” There is no direct translation in English, but it is related to the English word “hug.”
It is about creating “sanctuary in the middle of very real life.” Source
While you can hygge alone, the expression of hygge is being with loved ones in a relaxing and connected atmosphere.
Is it really surprising in this world of everything perfect and fast and furious, there is a new resurgence in the desire for the pleasure derived from simple things such as a warm cup of coffee, a walk with your spouse or a family night of board games?
I think that is why I love these bowls so much. Not only was the creating process hygge for me, but my family loves eating and drinking out of them – they are imperfectly homemade and cozy and reminders to just slow down a little.
And, by the way, the Danish are reported to be some of the happiest people in the world.
This is the book I am reading about Hygge.
The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living
International Women’s Day seems the appropriate time to share this recently finished painting of my dear sweet daughter Alyssa.
Here I Am
Oil on Wood Panel
16 x 20
I love it for it’s beauty and for it’s strength.
This is the future.
For my students, here is a little clip of the steps in the process to create this painting. I started with a board that I painted with red gesso. I like using the under painting for the shadows. The red areas are where I wiped away paint or just left the board red. I then painted in the shadows and lastly added the lights. She wanted a black and white painting so I left it that way – but I did add some warm white/gray for the light areas and some cool white/gray for the shadow or background areas. And yes I got a little paint on myself during the process! Appropriately, Alyssa came in while I was painting it the took the last photo of me.
Find more of my paintings HERE.
