Golden Hands: a modern portrait

This may sound strange, but sometimes I look at my hands and nearly do a double take. My hands are becoming my mother's hands, or at least my childhood memory of them. Cutting bread into fours for Annie, pulling on the girls' hats and mitts, stirring the soup...they actually look exactly like my mom's.

Anyone else ever see startling familial resemblances in places other than the face?

Golden Hands
Oil on Canvas, 9 x 12"
Copyright 2012 Lisa Smouter

This is a portrait of my Grandma's hands. It is a fresh take on portraiture in that it doesn't include her face, and yet for those who know her it's undeniable. Without a doubt, these digits have but one sole owner! Hands can be as unique as faces, and they tell many stories. In this case we included some props to help the story along, but really you could have as powerful and interesting a portrait without the needle and thread.

one for the kids...

Don't you just feel for the little girl whose favourite companion is left hanging out to dry?

Hanging Out to Dry
Oil on Canvas, 14 x 24"
Copyright 2012 Lisa Smouter
Original Painting For Sale: $450  |  Prints For Sale: $85 each

Poor little bear...

I'm actually a bit nervous to let this painting go, because it has given me many a headache! An artist rarely knows when a painting is finished, but with this one I'm saying I'm finished! In the end it was kind of fun, as Annie's own sense of humour inspired me to add fun things like animals in the clouds and an airplane with a banner ("baby on board!" was Arie's suggestion since I was expecting Josie at the time). Having a two-year-old in the house has made me lighten up a bit. Maybe some of you can relate? :)

Good Old-Fashioned Portraiture

Annie, 2 years old.
Conte and pencil on Stonehenge, approx. 6 x 6"
Copyright 2012 Lisa Smouter

Recently I have lost the motivation to draw from photographs. 

Yup. And I'm positive that my sister-in-law (read Kara Lodder Photography) is to blame. 

Her photos are so gorgeous, artwork in their own right. The proliferation of fantastic photos of my children has temporarily discouraged me from putting all the effort into sketching from photos. 

Unless the photo is not particularly beautiful, even when PhotoShopped.

Slideshow from Art Camp 2011

Hello all!   Please enjoy this slideshow of images from the studio this summer! I know I've missed a number of you.... (some things were inadvertently erased from my ipod :( ) I would love to share everyone's work, so if you would like to include yours just let me know! 

The music on this video is by Brooke Fraser, a musician I love. Check out her stuff on itunes.

Comments and compliments for and by students are welcome!

Cheers,

Lisa