Floating Mermaid

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!

 

Flying Fish

Flying Fish – acrylic painting by Heni Sandoval

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.

Two Dolphins in the Moonlight

Two Dolphins in the Moonlight – acrylic painting by Heni Sandoval

I’ve just completed painting Two Dolphins in the Moonlight for my Heni’s Happy Paintings Etsy shop.    Many years ago I did a watercolor painting of four dolphins playing in the full moonlit sea that I gave to my twin sister.  She still has it hanging in her home.  Now that I’m doing acrylic paintings, I thought it might be fun to try a new moonlit dolphin scene.   Last week I was going back and forth with a woman who really liked one of my double fish prints but wanted a custom ordered size, which led me to think about painting a double dolphin scene.  I combined those two ideas and and this painting is the result.  It was fun to use lots of  bright colors contrasting with the darks of the ocean and sky.    I want to continue along this whimsical path, tomorrow I plan to start a flying fish painting.  We’ll see how that goes.