Robin Among the Dogwood Flowers

Robin Among the Dogwood Flowers – acrylic painting by Heni Sandoval

Robin Among the Dogwood Flowers is a new painting for my bird series.  It seems that around this time of year I’m usually  inspired to paint spring scenes.  Spring here in Atlanta is breathtaking and each day brings new colors as the various plants awaken.  In the past few weeks the dogwoods are taking their turn with their bright white flowers  lighting up the landscape.

The robins are back in the hood.  Last week a robin landed just outside my kitchen window where I had long close up look at him.  Right then I decided it would be fun to paint a robin.  One thing I love about painting is that it helps  me to observe more closely the the world around me.  On my walks through the neighborhood, I focused on observing the robins and dogwoods as I worked on this painting.

Robins symbolize renewal and hope as they are one of the first birds to return in spring.  Some Native American tribes  saw the robin’s red chest and bright yellow break as a symbol of the dawning of the sun.  The yellow beak symbolized the rays of the sun and when seeing a robin it was a sign to speak your highest truth.

Today is the first day of spring break for all the kids here Atlanta, late last night storms came through helping to wash the pollen away.  I hope everyone enjoys this upcoming weekend.

 

Woman with Dove and Lilies

Woman with Dove and Lilies – acrylic painting by Heni Sandoval

Woman with Dove and Lilies is my most recent painting.   I’ve worked on it off and on throughout this rainy week.  It’s pouring now as I write.  Next week they say the sun will be coming back, I think everyone here in Atlanta is more than ready for that.  I’ll put this print up in my Circles Round the Sun Etsy Shop under my portrait section.  I’m off now to start a new painting, hope all are enjoying the weekend!

Purchase print here:  Woman with Dove and Lilies

Crow Visits a Girl in the Garden

Crow Visits a Girl in the Garden – acrylic painting by Heni Sandoval

Crow Visits a Girl in the Garden is my most recent painting.  After painting the Girl and Wolf, where the girl’s face was so small, I  felt the urge to paint a larger portrait. The crows are back in our neck of the woods so they’ve been on my mind.  I thought it would be interesting to place a crow with the girl in a garden scene.  I’m fairly pleased, it was a fun challenge.

It is quite chilly this morning and the leaves are just starting to turn, feels like fall now.  The sky is bright and it will be warming up shortly,  It’s great to have such a beautiful weekend after the past few dreary, rainy ones.  I plan to go visit a local art festival this afternoon.   Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!

Purchase print here:  Crow Visits a Girl in the Garden

The Pink Pig

On twitter the other day, someone asked the question, “What are some of your earliest Christmas memories?” which got me thinking.  

One of my early memories, so early that to me it seems dreamlike when I think about it, was riding the Pink Pig at Riches department store in downtown Atlanta.  I must have been 3 years old.  My twin sister and I probably rode it with my two older sisters while my parents shopped.  The Pink Pig ride was up on a railing that went around the interior of the store, we could look down and see the shoppers below.  Afterwards we got to visit with Santa Claus and then onto a red room where we picked out small gifts for our parents.   The spring after this experience our family moved to Columbus Ga.  Every year at Christmas, my older sisters would tell us that the “real” Santa was at Rich’s in Atlanta, which of course I believed. 

A while back I had showing of my art work at the Phoenix and Dragon bookstore in Sandy Springs titled, “When Pigs Fly”.  At the opening I was asked why I painted pigs.  During that talk I remembered and realized that the Pink Pig memory was probably a big unconscious reason why I had chosen to paint pigs.

The painting above is called “When Pigs Fly”  and it reminds me of the magic of this season. Wishing all a very magical holiday season!

Available here.