The "Empty Nester" Series

This is one of my very favorite photos of my daughters and me. Taken 15+ years ago, times back then were not perfect, just as they are far from perfect today. But in this little camera-capture, I love how we are all in the moment, hamming it up, clearly enjoying the evening around the campfire together.

Another thing that makes this photo unique is that I'm not the one behind the camera. Back in those days, I was taking hundreds of photos. I see it now as the way that I was able to add an artistic element to chasing after toddlers. A camera with an automatic setting was just about all I could manage. During that phase I learned a lot about being observant, composition, and editing.

This winter I found myself re-visiting all these old photos, getting swept up in the memories and the sweetness of those teeny humans who are now 19 and 23 years old. I had the idea to needle-felt my favorites onto linen, reminiscent of the illustrations of the old children's books my girls and I loved.

Jokingly titled "The Empty Nester Series", I finished a handful of little portraits before I got the yearning for toddler times out of my system. Actually, yearning isn't quite the correct term -- I fully remember how not-easy those times were. That said, how could I not indulge myself in at least a little nostalgia.

I'm thinking every Pacific Northwest parent has a similar puddle-stomper in their photo libraries. The thing that makes this one special to me is that the sweater Lucy is wearing was knitted by my mom when she was expecting her own babies. This sweater made it through three daughters of that generation before it was rediscovered and sent to me for my toddlers.

I transferred my drawing onto linen and began with a sepia toned "underpainting". A common practice for oil and acrylic painters, underpainting helps to establish the light and shadows, as well as provide a warm undertone that adds depth overall. I really like the effect, and will keep experimenting!

While I wasn't working on a farm back then, my friendships with island farmers kept animals in our lives right from the beginning! This painting of Molly features Buster, a pushy little bottle-baby lamb belonging to Lum Farm. It makes me want to write and illustrate a children's book titled "Molly had a Little Lamb." Any takers?

For this painting I began by using water soluble stabilizer that sticks to the linen. After I got the underpainting on, I rinsed off the stabilizer and worked from there. This was before I made the realization that I could just transfer the drawing directly onto the linen. You'll note I simplified Molly's outfit -- my kids both wore at least 3 different outfits simultaneously, so I took artistic license and omitted some layers.

This one reminds me of a nursery rhyme. Amazingly, i took no artistic license with this composition - everyone set themselves up beautifully!

Shout out to that middle duck who displayed astonishing high-kick form while also nailing the perfect mid-quack squint and smile!

It's not easy for me to part with them, but these paintings are all exhibited and for sale at the Orcas Island Artworks gallery in Olga on Orcas Island. I have many more ideas -- and photos -- to work from should the empty nester nostalgia hit me again!

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These paintings were scanned at "How it Works" in Anacortes, WA. They do a beautiful job with art reproductions, and I am offering cards and prints of the above paintings and more. Please visit my online shop for more info.