Birthday Bouquet, and a Nice Surprise

My birthday was two days ago, on the 29th. I thought it was going to be a very average Tuesday, but it wasn't that way at all! First of all, my lovely younger sister, Cara, sent me a bouquet of flowers. Since I had most of the afternoon free, I decided to enjoy them the best way I know how: BY PAINTING THEM! Here is the start: since flowers are so complicated, and move their little heads and leaves almost as much as the light changes during a plein air painting... I decided to start with one bloom and move to the next, one at a time. I have gotten to a point where I am very comfortable painting portraits and flesh tones, but since I don't paint a lot of flowers, this was quite challenging for me. After about two hours, I was exhausted, but blissfully happy. Here is the painting at… Read more »

Birthday Bouquet, and a Nice Surprise

Heart of Contentment

Yesterday temperatures reached almost 80 degrees in the Dallas area, and as soon as I could, I grabbed my plein air supplies and dashed out to the nearby nature preserve to get some sun (and maybe do a painting!). I realized, for that blissful hour and a half, that that was the first time in weeks and weeks that I felt peaceful and fully content (and I didn't even care whether or not my painting turned out!). Maybe I've been suffering from cabin fever... I don't know. But at the end of my little painting session, I wondered how I might carry that feeling of creative contentment back into my studio, and maintain it every day, no matter the circumstances. I've been feeling so unsettled lately, restless. Could it be that I just needed some fresh air?? It's probably more t… Read more »

Heart of Contentment

First painting of 2013: "Lullaby"

This brand new painting, "Lullaby," is the second in a set of portraits that have been in the works for several months. I am posting them both today. "Lullaby" - 21.75 x 16" - oil on linen Both portraits feature my dear friend Laura, and her one-month-old son, Simon. "Nurturer" (see below) also includes Laura's 2-year-old daughter, Elise. I was incredibly honored to spend three days with this beautiful family, humbly documenting with canvas and brush the biological wonder of breastfeeding. There were times when I was moved to tears as I watched this young mother -- who had struggled during her pregnancy -- sing and murmer to her little boy. I wanted to capture that incredible intimacy and love shared between mother and son. I was also awed by the love… Read more »

First painting of 2013: "Lullaby"

To Many More Years of Painting Your Joy...

Wow, hello 2013. Five years ago, "Artwork by Anna Rose" was just a fledgling business. I would sit in my big empty studio with my head full of hopes and dreams, wondering what the future would bring. Being new to Dallas, I would venture shyly into galleries, and tell people I was an aspiring artist, but only if they asked. I would sit around and wait for phone calls or emails, and rejoice whenever I got a lead, no matter how unlikely it was that a job would come of it. Now, I'm extremely pleased to answer when someone asks me, "What do you do?" I'm an ARTIST. And I'm proud of it. And I do okay at it, but I work a lot harder now than I did when I first got started. What an amazing journey it has been! I shouldn't be surprised that my growth and maturity … Read more »

To Many More Years of Painting Your Joy...