"Serenity Reigns" (oil on stretched canvas; 22" x 28")

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I have been working on "Serenity Reigns" for almost ten years.  Its complicated, Frank Lloyd Wrightesque architecture; the confusion between the inside and outside images; and some one's casual remark that the painting was neither here nor there got in the way.  I finally worked out the design and other problems and was able to finish it yesterday.  I cannot be happier.

The painting depicts a Chinese wooden sculpture from around 1100, a part of the fabulous Chinese art collection at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.  The sculpture is not Buddha, but a bodhisattva, an enlightened being who has delayed entering paradise in order to help others attain enlightenment.  In China and Korea, Guanyin, his/her Chinese name, is widely worshipped as a “goddess of mercy and compassion". In popular folklore, reciting the bodhisattva’s name during disaster would bring relief. I grew up in a devout Buddhist family, so am quite familiar with Guanyin's importance and popularity in the Buddhist milieu.

Seated in the lotus position, this figure wears the silk garments and gold jewelry befitting a bodhisattva. The gesture of both hands turned up with thumbs touching the middle fingers is perhaps that of discourse or argumentation. Carved during the last creative epoch of Chinese Buddhist sculpture, it expresses the gentle, benign calm of near enlightenment. (The information was collected from the MIA's website.)

On a personal level, I achieved my own calm and near enlightenment as I was working on the painting in the past few days. Let go of anger, frustration, and other emotions that interfere with the inner peace.  Don't let others determine what you should paint as well!

"Clue" (oil on linen; 8" x 16") sold

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"Clue" is for Richard.  Richard told me why he wanted me to paint the cover of the classic board game, Clue.  Several years ago, he and his friends dressed up as the characters of the game to create the perfect mood for his proposal to his then girl friend.  Richard and she had grew up on and were both fond of the game.  Their wedding anniversary is coming up in January, so this painting is to be a surprise gift to his wife.  Have you ever heard of a more romantic and sweeter story? 

If you look at the painting carefully, you will find a diamond engagement ring and the lettering "Magnolia", whose meaning Richard didn't let me on.  He also asked me to keep the mood mysterious and spooky.  I hope I succeeded!

"Gracie" (oil on linen; 7" x 7") sold

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"Gracie" is for Cecilia, who commissioned me to paint two pet portraits for her mother.  Gracie, a Lab/Great Pyrenees mix, is a bit shy with people at first, but loyal and sweet with dogs of all sizes, particularly little dogs.  Doesn't her sweet nature come through in the portrait?

Unlike "Georgie", we had trouble finding the right photo for the commission.  Fortunately, Cecilia's dad was in on it, so he helped out by sending us more and more pictures.  My client wanted two paintings in the same format, so that they would look great when hung side by side. It was a good idea because the two dogs are about the same size and similar coloring (black and white).  Eventually there was a picture I could crop down to the sweet square to match "Georgie".  I think our quest was worth it!

"Gracie" and "Georgie" side by side

"Francis" (oil on linen; 8" x 10") sold

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"Francis" is for Mike DiCenzo.  Mike commissioned the painting for his friend, John, who just got a cat that he loves.  When I saw the picture of Francis, my heart melted, so I can believe why this cat is special to John.

Francis is a six-month-old kitten of an unknown, but beautiful, breed.  I asked Mike about Francis's fun facts.  In my mind, I could see him scratching his head.  How would he know much about his friend's cat?  He said that Francis likes to spoon with John!

I have a fun fact about Mike for you.  He is a writer on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.  So is John, by the way.  I am feeling famous, painting for famous people and all.  Hahaha!

"Lily" (oil on linen; 7" x 7") sold

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"Lily" is the last painting for Cameron.  Lily, a Dachshund, is the newest addition to the family, having just joined the bunch a year ago.  She is still a little wild, but her favorite perch for snoozing is any warm lap!  It is wonderful to see dogs with canine companions, because dogs get lonely when their human family are not around the house.  Thank you, Cameron, for trusting me to paint these darling dogs.  You are the third person to order three pet portraits!

"Zoe" (oil on linen; 7" x 7") sold

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"Zoe" is for Mary Anne.  Mary Anne inherited the six-year-old Siamese cat from her old aunt who had her for two years before passing.  Zoe is very sweet at home, but turns into the cat from hell at the vet!

One curious fact about Zoe is that she likes to get in the sink.  In one picture she was indeed poking her head out of the sink.  I loved the expression on her face, so I pasted the head to the body of another picture, in which she was looking down from a sofa.  As I told Mary Anne, I combined the sofa cat's body with the sink cat's head!

By the way, I was very happy to accept this commission, because, for whatever reason, I haven't been able to paint too many cats.  Sure, you cannot play Frisbee with a cat or take a cat for a walk, but cats have such elegant forms!

"Opie and Rainey" (oil on linen; 9" x 12") sold

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"Opie and Rainey" is for Holly, who found me on Etsy.  It is the first of the three paintings I am doing for her family.  I have become a Santa's helper--a pet portraitist elf!  Opie on the right is a wire-haired Dachshund; Rainey on the left is a Jack Russell.  The two are great buddies, with Opie being super mischievous and fun-loving.

As you can see, they are heart-meltingly adorable and are the reason why Holly's son, Eli, comes home once a week for his "dog fix."  But I am getting ahead of myself.  The painting is for Holly's husband.  Eli will be getting a smaller one.  Once again, my readers, keep the whole thing secret.  Mum's the word....

If you send your pet's pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com, I will make beautiful pet portraits out of them.  How fun is that!  Besides, my pet portraits make perfect birthday and Christmas presents.  Thanks!

My readers, in case you didn't notice, I have created a new page on my blog, called "Pet Portrait Orders".  You will find all the information you want to know about ordering a pet portrait.  Please check it out.

"Henry" (oil on linen; 7" x 7") sold

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"Henry" is the second painting for Lynn's family.  Henry is a one-year-old dachshund.  He is a Daddy's boy, but currently lives with Lynn's son, Kevin.

Henry obviously has a promising career ahead of him as a model.  Even from the tiny file, probably taken with a phone, I could tell what an incredible painting it would make.  The late afternoon light pours into the room.  The puppy is lying down in the sun on a wooden floor.  The far and front ends of the picture frame are in deep shadow.  Someone calls his name, so he turns his head to look.  A moment captured; a lasting beauty.

If you send your pet's pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com, I will make beautiful pet portraits out of them.  How fun is that!  Besides, my pet portraits make perfect birthday and Christmas presents.  Thanks!

My readers, in case you didn't notice, I have created a new page on my blog, called "Pet Portrait Orders".  You will find all the information you are dying to know about ordering a pet portrait.  Please check it out.

"Room with a Sailboat" (oil on linen; 8" x 10") sold

sold

"Room with a Sailboat" is another painting for my Facebook friend, Elizabeth.  It is her new conservatory, where she likes to stitch.  There were other knickknacks on the window sills, but the sailboat model in its prominent location gave the painting the title.

By the way, I will be participating in Leslie Saeta's September 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge.  That's a lot of paintings!  I have never painted that many and blogged that often in a month.  Do you think I can do it?  Let's make it a team effort!  Please send me your pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com.  I am waiting for your pictures of pets, houses, vacations (without people in them), favorite places, gardens, hometowns, etc.  I will do a drawing and give one painting away at the end of September.  Thanks!

"Winged Victory of Samothrace" (watercolor on paper; 20" x 14")

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The famous ancient Hellenistic Greek statue at the Louvre Museum in Paris was the inspiration for the painting.  The 2nd-century BC marble sculpture of the Greek goddess Nike (Victory) was created to honor a sea battle.  Since 1884, it has been prominently displayed at the Louvre and is one of the most celebrated sculptures in the world.  Although headless, it conveys a sense of action and triumph.  I cannot imagine it with a beautiful woman's head, just as I cannot think of "Venus of Milo" with arms.  The power of imagination!

I visited the museum back in 1997 during a two-week trip to France with my husband. I was awed by the beauty of a chunk of an ancient marble.  I wanted to paint it and paint it well.  It was particularly challenging project.  The reference photo with a flat, interior lighting didn't give me much value variation.

I crumpled a thin piece (90 lb weight) of watercolor paper, which crackled (damaged) the surface.  A sacrilegious act, but I was going for an unfussy way to suggest the marble texture. The background interior of the museum was pained with minimum details, whereas I carefully punched up the statue as much as I could with the same limited palette.  It is a subtle, blue painting, which is curiously alive.  You can almost feel the breeze caused by the fluttering wings of the goddess, which is about to take off!

The painting was juried into the Art League show in Alexandria, VA in 2006.