Orbs is a new painting. This week I decided to take a break from my abstracts and paint more realistically. I was inspired by four pine trees in my neighbor’s front yard that light up in the late afternoon as the sun sets. Looking at them gave me the idea for this painting and then I decided to add a surreal touch with floating glowing orbs.
I like the graphic quality of the painting and feel that the abstracts have helped me loosen up a bit. I plan to start a new painting tomorrow. Hard to believe it’s Labor Day weekend; my daughter starts online graduate school next week. The children in our county are back to school online only, the COVID numbers are still high here. Hope everyone enjoys the weekend.
Mom and Baby Beluga Whales – acrylic painting by Heni Sandoval
Mom and Baby Beluga Whale is a new painting for my Heni’s Happy Paintings Etsy Shop. I wanted to do a new sea life painting with a mom and baby. It’s been fun to paint the two whales and figure out how to bring in the light through the water.
I was the girl scout leader for my girl’s troop through her fifth grade, our big end of the year event was a sleep over at the Atlanta Aquarium which had recently opened. The girls were thrilled. We got the “behind the scenes” tour and to do lots of fun activities through the night. My favorite spot was by the window with a view into the large Beluga Whale tank. There were two whales that would swim by and look at us. They are graceful and seemed very gentle and curious about our kids. Later in the night we set up our sleeping bags in the river otter section which was something, they came alive at night calling each other and diving in and out of the water. It was great fun to watch, though we didn’t get any sleep.
In this painting the Beluga Whales are free and not in captivity. Recently the Georgia Aquarium has decided to no longer will take whales or dolphins caught in the wild, they need to be with larger family groups and able to swim free. Times are changing as we become more aware.
Floating Mermaid- acrylic painting by Heni Sandoval
Here is my new painting, Floating Mermaid. It’s feels good to be back to painting as I have had a long break. In early May, I took a road trip with my twin sister up to New York City. We met up with my two other sisters in New Jersey at my aunt’s home and had such a great reunion, also enjoying visiting with cousins and my aunt. It had been over ten years since we had all been together. We then took the train into Manhattan and got to spend time with my daughter who was finishing up her freshman year at NYU. She loves being in the city and it was reassuring to see how she was thriving.
Once she came home for summer break, an opportunity opened up for her to spend five weeks in China teaching English and visiting with Chinese friends she had made at school. It was all very sudden and with me helping her get ready for her adventure and having her home I found it challenging to focus on my art.
She’s been in China a week now and is enjoying herself and I am back to painting. This floating mermaid is the result. In life there are times we have to let go, relax and trust. As a mom, I was nervous about my 18 year old girl traveling on her own half way around the world. At this point, part of my journey as a mom is to let go and trust my child’s own path in life. In this painting I wanted to show a mermaid relaxing in the water as the sun shines on her with the white dove of peace soaring above her, knowing all is well.
I hope all are enjoying summer, whether you are home relaxing or off on exciting adventures!
One of my goals for the new year was to begin a daily practice of making art. I’ve started sketching more and I try to have a painting on my easel most of the time. Here is a still life I recently completed, Lemons.
When I first started painting years ago, I painted several pears in this blue bowl. It’s helpful to start a painting from a real scene, you can focus on what you see, how the light effects the colors of the objects. I felt it would be a good exercise to do some still lifes where I could actually see what I am painting.
I chose lemons this time around as lemons are one of my favorite fruits. I use them daily to make marinaded salads and add them to tea. Their bight cheerful yellow color seems to match this time of year when everything is waking up.
It was a fun challenge and I am fairly pleased. In keeping with my goal, I’ve stared sketching a scene for a new painting, another still life.
There Goes My Shadow – acrylic painting by Heni Sandoval
Lately with the US Presidential election season heating up, I’ve been thinking about the collective shadow. Psychologist Carl Jung termed the shadow as the unowned negative parts of ourselves that we tend to project on others. Here are a few quotes on the shadow:
Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with darkness in other people. – Carl Jung
Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves. – Carl Jung
Both light and shadow are the dance of love.- Rumi
These past few weeks I’ve been trying to look at my own shadow. It has been painful but I’m feeling stronger now, more centered. I wanted to do a painting about the shadow and the light that comes from releasing our fears. There Goes My Shadow is the result.
Dolphin in Dappled Sunlight – acrylic painting by Heni Sandoval
Here in Atlanta the kids have been back in school for three weeks now. My daughter is in her senior year of high school and will soon begin applying to colleges. With the realization of the expenses that lie ahead, my husband and I are trying to figure out the various financial options of her potential college choices. It’s overwhelming; so, early this week when I received a message on my Heni’s Happy Painting’s Etsy Shop from a woman who loved my Mom and Bay Dolphin print but wanted a single dolphin instead, it was the perfect time to step back from that stress and dive into a new painting.
Dolphin in the Dappled Sunlight is the result. I’ve always loved dolphins, they are so playful. When we were in Hawaii swimming with them, the beauty of the light through the clear blue water reflecting on their bodies was striking. I tried to capture that light and yet make it slightly different from the other painting. I am hoping the woman will be pleased. Enjoy these last days of the season!
Here is my most recent painting – Flying Fish. I have painted many a fish and always swimming in the watery depths. I think of fish as being one with the water where they flow and move in tune with the currents. As I child I was very sensitive to the feelings and emotions of others. I can remember my mom telling me over and over that I was too sensitive. It always bothered me when she told me that, but she was right. Through the years I’ve learned to develop more boundaries and separate from others’ emotions. I’ve become less moody and more objective. I wanted to paint a fish who could enjoy flying up in the fresh air with the warm sun.
I worked on this painting for over two weeks, it took a while to come together. I knew I wanted a fish in the sky with the sun but working out the colors and shape of the sun and sky was quite a challenge for me. I’m pleased with the result and feel the fish is happy getting a bit of fresh air before diving down again into the depths.
Today September 21st is the International Day of Peace, a day observed by people all over the world to encourage peace within and among nations. In honor of the day I was inspired to paint a new white dove which I’ve titled Dove of Peace. I had painted two other whites doves years ago and wanted this painting to match the style to the other two. It was a joy for me to paint. This past week I’ve felt encouraged about our world becoming more peaceful. My hope is that people are so tired of war that they will encourage governments to use diplomacy to get people working together to resolve conflicts that will bring peace throughout the world. To learn more about the day and events occurring you can go to this link: http://www.internationaldayofpeace.org/
Orange Fish with Raindrops- acrylic painting by Heni Sandoval
“Oh, the lovely fickleness of an April day!” William Hamilton Gibson
Spring here in Atlanta has been unseasonably chilly. Last night the low temperature was 39 degrees. April has started out fickle with gray weather and rain. This weekend it is supposed to be sunny and warmer. Finally! The dogwoods and azaleas are just about to bloom, it’s going to be gorgeous around here. My daughter’s school spring break starts next week, she is heading to the beach with a friend, hopefully the weather will be lovely for them. I will have more time to paint. I’m starting a second jungle theme painting, this one will be a crocodile.
I painted Orange Fish with Raindrops around this time last year and I think it suits an April day well.
Heni's Happy Paintings 