Rose Painting and Moments Like These

Dear Friends and Family,

It’s been a really long time since I’ve sent an art newsletter, and I deeply apologize. However, I have some very good reasons! Lots of things have been happening in the past half a year, like moving (twice…actually it will be three times in the next few weeks), my husband’s internship and then master’s program in accounting, but most importantly, a baby! There have been some crazy changes going on with my pregnancy, one of which knocked me into bed for pretty much 9 weeks of morning sickness. I couldn’t do much of anything! Not even paint a picture. Thankfully I’m writing this in the middle of my second trimester, and I always like to keep the past in the past, so I’d rather not dwell on that. The good news is the baby is fine, healthy, and it’s going to be a little girl!!!!! I can’t tell you how excited I am! One thing I will have to get her is a kid’s painting easel so she can paint when I do, and will get some great art lessons (that is if she listens long enough!). Well, this is an art email, isn’t it? So let’s talk about art, and see some pictures!

These past few months there have been several things that have stuck out in my mind. The first is I have my bachelor’s degree, and what do I have to show for it? I realized that a degree means nothing unless you do something about it. The next thing is I was in the temple recently, and I was talking to a random woman who works there. While talking to her she said she’s been contemplating this thought: “If you don’t reach your goal, you never really wanted it in the first place.” It reminded me of a painting that I had sitting in my closet. I wanted so badly to finish it, but once morning sickness hit me I never really got around to it. So this past week I decided to finish the piece that I started.

This rose was from a bouquet James gave me for Valentine’s Day. They were all white roses, and I took some pictures of them before they withered away. I wanted to show you the picture so you can compare it with the painting. I think the comparison is pretty cool – a photograph versus an artist’s perception.

Also, notice that a white rose is never truly white. White actually contains all of the colors of the spectrum put together. And pure white can only be used sparingly in art as highlights. Otherwise if you painted the rose all white, you’d have a white canvas! What colors are the shadows? What colors are the tips? Thought you might have some fun spotting all the colors in a white rose…I did when I painted it!

There was a friend of mine who has three children, and she had an idea that she suggested one time that I decided to try doodling it onto paper and giving it as a gift. She said there was a little girl on a toilet with a dog and a cat in the room. So…knowing that I have been doodling in all my classes since I could remember, I took to it and came up with this:

Then I attempted my hand at colored pencil, which probably isn’t my medium of choice and didn’t turn out as fabulous as I had hoped, but oh well. Sorry for the not-so-professional-photography on this one:

I thought it was cute. It’s an 8x10, so she could find any old frame for it. Unfortunately I haven’t heard from her since I stuck it in her mailbox. Hope she is doing well….That’s what I get for giving out art! I do it so many times now, no wonder they call it a starving artist! Well what good is an art talent if you can’t better the lives of others with it?
I’m sorry I don’t have much else to show you from 7 month’s time, other than a fun car study, and a red flowers study to get me back into oil painting….well sure, why not! I’ll give you a peek:

They were going to be larger paintings in the future, and I was trying to work out color options in my study. But if you have been with me for a while, cars have begun to get old. Do you think I should make some more flower paintings? Also, I don’t think I continued with these because shortly after I found myself pregnant, I banned myself from using oils because of the toxic paint thinner. I didn’t want to take any chances. I’m looking into trying out water-based oils and seeing where it takes me.
Oh! I almost forgot! I have up a pretty daring auction - an original piece of artwork of any subject you wanted, framed, signed and shipped to you for free. This is a one time thing and it was more of an experiment to see if anyone out there really wanted an artwork commission. I know a few of you will protest and tell me this might not be the best route to take. But when you're slightly strapped for money you'll end up doing some crazy things. This is one of them! If you are interested you are welcome to bid. But hurry because the auction ends in three days time:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290248223196&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=019

Thanks for all your love and support! Remember to keep on dreaming and trying to reach your goals!

Sincerely,

Laura D’Onofrio