Hare on an Egg

Hare on an Egg – acrylic painting by Heni Sandoval

Hare on an Egg is my new painting this week. My husband thought of the name, which helped me out as sometimes the hardest part is naming these paintings. I chose a a hare because the Swimming Turtle painting I did a few weeks ago brought to mind the Tortoise and the Hare story. I like the way that he looks a bit mischievous. In the beginning I had him on a winding path but eventually decided to have him balancing on an egg. This painting was a lot of fun to create and I’m about to start on a new one today.

I have recently opened an Instagram account. For years I’ve been hearing that as an artist, Instagram is the best place to be. I use my desktop for most of my social media and don’t feel too comfortable with my cell phone. My daughter helped me get it set up, she’s been there for years with her photography. I’m still learning my way around and finding it fun. My account name is Heni’s.Happy.Paintings Check it out!

Swimming Turtle

The last painting of the crow and dove reminded me of the time, as a park ranger, I led a program where I told stories of animal myths from different cultures. While researching for that program I had seen many wonderful animal illustrations in children’s books and decided it would be fun to do an animal series in my abstract style. Swimming Turtle is my first attempt, it’s actually my fourth turtle painting.

Last weekend when a certain politician in the news was compared to a turtle on my twitter feed, my reaction was that was a grave injustice to turtles everywhere. I love turtles and feel fortunate when I spot one in nature. In Native American lore the earth was called “turtle island,” from a tale that the turtle carried the earth on it’s back. In this painting I have the turtle swimming through space.

Ode to Chocolate

Ode to Chocolate – acrylic painting by Heni Sandoval

I’ve just completed Ode to Chocolate. This painting is a sweet valentine to our childhood family dog, a standard poodle named Chocolate. My twin sister and I grew up with him; he was such a sweetie, he soaked up all the loving attention we gave him.

He was the second standard poodle our family had, the first, Impy had been stolen a few years earlier. My dad had trained him to hunt and always said Impy was the best hunting dog he had ever had. Standard poodles are fun, intelligent and make great hunting dogs. Unfortunately for Chocolate, while still a puppy, the boys next door threw a firecracker over the backyard wall which when he went to fetch, it exploded in his face. After that point he was a bit emotionally wounded as he understandably became more timid and very frightened of any loud sounds. Sadly for my dad, he was never able to train him to hunt.

Dad used to say he became a mamma’s boy. Mom did a good job of caring for him, she had a book on various poodle hair cut styles, I remember her shaving him with an electric shaver. As we got older we would help give him baths. In those days dogs ran free, Chocolate would go in and out whenever he liked, ringing the bells on the door to let us know. We spent a lot of time outside in the yard playing with him. Most nights he would be in next to one of our beds sleeping. I have such happy memories of Chocolate and all the love he gave us.

Mom and Baby Giraffe

Mom and Baby Giraffe

Mom and Baby Giraffe is a new painting of mine for the African animal series in my Heni’s Happy Painting Etsy Shop. Giraffes are so unique and seem like such gentle creatures. I tried to convey their gentleness in the painting.

A few months ago I heard that giraffes have now been added to the endangered animals list because of poaching and loss of habitat; and at that moment I decided to do the painting. A month later at the holiday artist market a neighbor who had traveled to the South Africa Savanna bought my lion and elephant prints to remind her of her trip but told me she really wanted a giraffe image because she had loved seeing them while there and that they were her favorite animal. I told her that the giraffe was going to be my next painting. One day I hope to travel to the African Savannah to view these majestic animals.

It feels good to be back to painting, I hope everyone is off to a good start in this new year.

Truffle Out on the Porch

Truffle Out on the Porch – acrylic painting by Heni Sandoval

Truffle Out on the Porch features our other much loved tuxedo kitty. This painting is a companion piece to last week’s painting of Tuxie. I’m enjoying the challenge of working on the larger paper. This painting had quite a few elements that took a while to bring together and work out.

We built a screened porch just off our dining room after a few years of living here and are glad we did. It’s quite spacious outdoor space with a peaked roof and is much needed with the mosquitoes that thrive here. It’s great for entertaining and just hanging out on mild days. Truffle tends to spend more time there then his brother. Tuxie tends to roam while Truffle is our home boy spending many afternoons out on the porch.

I’m now thinking that I might put both paintings up in the dining room. This one is brighter and there is space for both. When I get them up I will post a photo.

Black Panther

Black Panther -Acrylic Painting by Heni Sandoval

Black Panther is a new painting for my large jungle cat collection. I wanted him to look powerful as he prowls through the rainforest on a full moon night contrasting with the colorful foliage surrounding him.

The panther is a general term for a large black feline. In Asia, they are solid black leopards, while in the Americas they are black jaguars. Their color caused by genetics in which the normal orange spots are black, making them extremely rare. Panthers are intelligent and agile and seldom seen by humans as they are very quiet and cautious.

In reading about the symbolism of the panther I learned that the panther is closely associated with the power of night and the dark moon. It is the symbol of a protective mother. The panther spirit animal stands for power and protection.

Though it’s the end of summer, here in Atlanta we’ve had hot dry weather for weeks now, I’m more than ready for fall to arrive. I hope all are enjoying the last days of the season.

King Elephant

King Elephant – acrylic painting by Heni Sandoval

King Elephant is a painting I made in June around Father’s Day. I woke up one morning and decided to paint a large African elephant. Only afterwards did I realize it was a compliment painting to the Mom and Baby Elephant that I had done four years prior when my daughter was about to start her freshmen year of college. She graduated from college this May. He is the father elephant. I love it when it’s only later my conscious mind catches up to my impulse to paint a subject, that’s part of the magic of art. I had been thinking of how hard my husband worked those four years to support her financially and also that he was there for her, always believing in her and supporting her ability to forge her own path. 

I chose the name “King Elephant” after a game that our extended family used to play whenever we got together during the holidays and summer beach trips. Everyone would play including my parents and the young children. My brother-in-law would always start the game as the lead King Elephant. We all loved playing it. 

With the advent of the “me too” movement and seeing the misuse of power by men in politics and other areas, it is heartening to see that that my husband and brother-in-laws have done their best to be balanced good men; involved and supportive dads and husbands. I appreciate them and all the men that strive to be aware and balanced.

Leo the Lion

Leo the Lion -acrylic painting by Heni Sandoval

It’s been a busy season, a couple of Sundays ago we had the yearly neighborhood artist holiday open house at my home.  I enjoy decorating  my home as it gets me into the Christmas spirit.  Several artist friends and their lovely  art  fill the downstairs during the show.  It was a sunny mild day with lots of people stopping by; everyone seemed to do well. The following Monday I took time to restock my framed prints over at the Flying Biscuit Cafes.  

Now I’m  back to painting.  I’ve just completed Leo the Lion.   I had painted the Lion’s Gate a while back but this time I wanted to paint a large lion as if the solar light was shining on and from him.  The sun rules Leo and the Lion is it’s symbol.  I have a  good friend, a Leo who is having serous health issues.  I admire his strength, to me, he seems gallant the way he has handled his degenerative illness and continues to be present and loving with his family.  

Many years ago on Christmas, my twin sister and I received the set of books, The Chronicles of Narnia  by C.S. Lewis which we read over the winter break. Both of us loved the series as the writing was imaginative and magical.  I especially loved the Aslan, the lion.  He was the majestic guide, strong and kind.  I pictured him in my mind as he took the children for rides on his back.  How safe and secure they felt. In the film that came out a few years back, the lion was much smaller than I imagined.  The lion I painted is how I see him. 

I hope everyone has a magical holiday season! 

Wily Coyote

Wily Coyote – acrylic painting by Heni Sandoval

After last week’s more complex painting, I felt like painting something more whimsical and loose.  As I was pondering what to paint,  I happened to see a  funny cartoon of  Wile E. Coyote getting into trouble with the Road Runner and later that evening  Joni Mitchel’s Coyote tune came up on my Echo; I love all her music and had not heard that fun song in years.  We also have had plenty of coyotes in the hood,  I’ve never seen one here but have heard their strange calls in the wee hours of the night.

With the decision made, I looked up the symbolism of the coyote.  He is often thought of as a trickster, a joker, and even a shape-shifter, but is also revered in Native American culture as an important messenger of personal transformation, showing endings and new beginnings.

I thought it might be fun to paint a coyote in a fanciful colorful magic-like landscape and Wily Coyote is the result. I’m pleased with the way he is looking at the viewer as if he knows something we don’t.

Next week my husband and I are heading to Seattle for my niece’s wedding. Its definitely a time of a new beginnings for my niece and also for her older sister who is days away from her second child’s birth.  We’ll be there for a just under a week with all my sisters and the nieces and nephews.  Our daughter will  fly in from Japan, luckily her internship ends two days before the wedding date.  We’re so looking forward to being with her and hearing all about her experience there.  Not sure that I’ll be able to start another painting before we leave but am looking forward to new inspiration of being in Seattle during this exciting time with our extended family.

Happy Easter!

Bounding Bunny – acrylic painting by Heni Sandoval

Happy Easter!  I painted this little fellow in late February of this year.   Here in Atlanta we were enjoying some unusually early warm weather which was delightful and inspired me to paint Bounding Bunny.  As I was painting, I began to see think about the Easter bunny and how much fun we had as children hunting for Easter eggs and then later as a parent, enjoying the delight of my child and her friends doing the same.  So in this painting I added eggs into the layers of color as a wink to all that fun!

Also, Happy Passover to those of you celebrating that holiday.  It’s a beautiful morning here, hope everyone enjoys the day!