Just Picture It: Hugo and Wheel

Since Christmas has now come and gone (crazy!), I can finally share the images of my two most recent commissions (both were Christmas gifts and I didn't want to ruin the surprise!). Check them out below...

Painting #1: Commissioned by an old family friend for his roomate/friend, this is Hugo--his friend's dog. Isn't he amazing? Before I did the painting, he decided that he wanted it stylized, painted in monochromatic fields of color, as opposed to realistically. So that's exactly what we did! Fun, isn't it? And please, would you look at those eyes?

"Hugo," Acrylic on Mounted Hardboard, 8" x 10"

Painting #2: This piece was commissioned by one of my students as a gift for his wife, Julie, thus it is entitled "Julie in Wheel." She is a yoga teacher and avid yogini, as you can tell from her gorgeous wheel, and the painting was done from a photograph of Julie practicing on the beach. The challenge for me? It was in watercolor! Every brushstroke was scary (if you mess up in watercolor, you can't paint over it like you can in acrylic or oil!), but I had a blast doing it. Please excuse the faded coloring in the photograph below...

"Julie in Wheel," Watercolor, 12" x 18"

So that's what I've been up to in my studio these days...

Namaste!
Mary Catherine