Woman with Red Winged Blackbird

Woman with Red Winged Blackbird

Woman with Red Winged Blackbird is my new painting of the week. It’s actually a redo of a painting I did in 2015. While painting my mom in the canoe a few weeks ago, I realized that over time, I’ve gotten a little better at faces; so, I pulled out this older painting and ended up redoing most of it. I feel like her face works a bit better. I then decided to change the crow and make him a red winged blackbird. I took a bit of artistic license as you don’t usually see them at birdbaths. Their habitat is in fields close to water. I used to see them all the time when I was a park ranger leading tours on trails through the marshes.

I’ve admired the works of the Pre-Raphaelite painters of Victorian England who rebelled from the style at the time by painting women with long flowing hair using rich, vivid colors in natural settings. I remember seeing some of their paintings at the Tate Gallery in London back in my early 20’s and being moved by the large size and richness of colors. This painting is a nod to that style.

Soaring Dove of Peace

Monday, September 21st is the International Day of Peace. I’ve painted a white dove of peace to honor the day for seven years now. Soaring Dove of Peace is this year’s painting, my first dove on the larger paper. With the extra space I decided to play with my new abstract style. I like the way it almost looks like stained glass

International Day of Peace is observed by people all over the world to encourage peace within and among nations. This year is the 75th year anniversary and the is theme “Shaping Peace Together.”  The UN invited millions of people throughout the world to join in a global conversation on building a peaceful and prosperous future which has become even more important with the global pandemic.  The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. There are activities going on all weekend leading up to Monday.

If you are interested in learning more about the International Day of Peace  and events occurring check out this link: International Day of Peace 2020

Through the Storm

Each year around this time I paint a white dove in honor of International Peace Day which occurs on September 21st. On Monday as Tropical Storm Irma was blowing through Atlanta I decided to paint a new dove.

It was a stressful day for my husband as he was in the last stages of finishing up a big job and couldn’t afford to lose time in a power outage.   I have a large studio window upstairs and watched the big trees in the back yard sway back and forth.  The winds felt relentless, with big gusts coming through every few hours.  In our neighborhood alone around seven or so large trees came down;  many of our neighbors lost power.   Half of our county lost power, with the children just returning to school yesterday.  We were very, very lucky to have kept our power and also the internet service which was equally as important for my husband.  It was quite a storm and my heart goes out to all that suffered loss.

I was pondering why the dove is a symbol of peace and thought one reason is the beautiful curves it has, the rounded head and nicely feminine, curved form.    I tried to accent that in this  painting.  I then kept painting curving colors around and through the  dove.  I starting seeing all the curves that I was painting as the wind that I was hearing.  It was a good distraction from our fears of losing power.

I liked the way it turned out.   When I look at this dove it makes me think of  these powerful natural events that touch us and in some ways bring our humanity out as we come together to help and renew.

Little Owl

Little Owl – acrylic painting by Heni Sandoval

Little Owl is my new painting of a small owl sitting on a branch in a forest just prior to dusk.  In late May, my good friend was in town for a visit and to see my art show.  After dinner we took a walk through the neighborhood as the sun was setting.  I happened to glance over at a dogwood tree in a wooded front yard where I noticed a large barn owl only about eight feet from us on a low branch. We stopped to watch him as he stared at us silently with his large eyes never moving. He was striking and must have been waiting for darkness to set in before hunting.

In recent years, owls have been a big decor item and I had been resisting painting them. Since seeing this owl and also recently hearing an owl’s hoot in the late night I decided it was time to paint one.   I looked up what it could mean when you see an owl and read that there could be a mystery afoot or some kind of transition coming up.  Owls also represent wisdom and intelligence.

My daughter leaves to study in Prague for the semester in just two weeks.  She’ll be taking a photography class along with a couple of language and core classes.  Her passport and visa finally came in the mail today,  her new film camera for the class arrived yesterday so she is just about ready.  Her twentieth  birthday is a few days before she leaves.  She’s got a lot to look forward to, we’re excited for her upcoming adventure.  I plan to paint all weekend, don’t have a subject picked out yet.  Enjoy your 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

Peace Dove Rising

Peace Dove Rising – acrylic painting by Heni Sandoval

Peace Dove Rising  is my new painting.  Each year in honor of International Day of Peace (Sept. 21st) I paint a white dove.  It’s a day is observed by people all over the world to encourage peace within and among nations. Last year’s painting was a night scene which I titled, Darkest Before Dawn because at that time things appeared bleak.  This year I felt like painting a happy, uplifted dove.  It seems to me that progress is being made.  There have been new major agreements occurring between nations.  Leaders, political and spiritual, are shining light on major problems in our world in which we the people can come together and  solve. 

My husband and I took our daughter up to New York City for college three weeks ago and are adjusting to being empty nesters,  it feels good to be settling down a bit and getting back to painting.  If you are interested in learning more about the International Day of Peace  and events occurring check out this link: http://www.internationaldayofpeace.org/

Purchase print here:  Peace Dove Rising

Woman with Two Fish and a Bird

Woman with Two Fish and a Bird ~ acrylic painting by Heni Sandoval

I’m not sure this is a happy painting but I must admit I am happy with her.  This is my most recent painting and I can see that I am getting better at portrait painting.   The human face is complex, the shapes and forms have to blend together well to work.  My husband, who is an architectural illustrator can easily sketch out the human figure.  He is much more visual than I am.  I realize that feeling and playing with color is my strong suit.   I love the fact that the more I paint the better I am becoming at really seeing, this keeps me inspired.

Here I’ve tried to paint a centered, strong willed woman who is in touch with her feelings (fish) and listens to her intellect (bird).

Available here.