Christmas portraits 2016
It's that time of year again when I can finally post the Christmas portraits I drew the last few months. It's always my busiest time of year and I really appreciate your support and love making new friends from all over!
I say this every time, but I mean it every time. I feel so close to these families when I draw them. I look at their pictures, trying to get the hair, clothes and hobbies just right, and after several hours I feel like I know them and feel like we are best friends. Even if I already know that family, I feel like I know them and love them even more. That probably just sounded stalkerish, but it's true. I love these dear families and I believe every family is beautiful.
This rad family is my sister-in-law. I loved all the details she asked for. Each person has something that represents them, and her arms are full holding her family that she loves so much. Oh and their momma and baby cow. They are certainly part of the family.
I love the Cook family. They are my awesome neighbors and I just adore their little girl!
My 4 year old loved watching me edit on the computer and would beg to color the family I was editing. So I would print off a pen version (one where I hadn't add color yet) and she would happily color next to me. I started to think how much a child (or maybe even adult) might like to color their own family. So I started to send a black & white color version also with the finished portrait. I hope the children (and maybe even adults) enjoyed coloring it.
I loved drawing this Chicago Cubs loving family. I love when husbands order portraits. The way he described his wife & children was so sweet.
I was asked to draw several "simple stick figure families" and I LOVED drawing these! I especially loved the scarves on this family.
I love floral dresses!
Oh how I love these simple stick figures!
I loved the colors and sweet dogs in this one!
The Stumpp family are all avid scouters. This was a rad order to draw them all in their Venture scouting uniforms and try draw all the patches in the right places.
The Arnold family asked for trees in the background that would be native to their home state of Virginia. I usually draw pine or aspen trees, but they don't have those there. I searched and searched online for a Virginia tree and finally ended up with the State Tree, the dogwood tree, that blossoms these beautiful pink flowers. I really loved this one!
The Blaser family was special because it is my sister-in-law Jamie's family. They are the nicest, best family.
Just before Christmas I decided to finally get a hair cut, I wont tell you how long it had been since I had been in last. Anywho, I love my hair lady, Stephanie, and she was telling me she couldn't find anything for her dad for Christmas and I said, "I know the best gift to give someone who has everything . . . a family portrait!" This is her sweet family, and she said her dad and family loved it! I especially love her sister who it holding the cat. She loves her cat so much. :)
Large families take a lot longer to draw and more brain power for me to sort everyone out and then try squeeze everyone in, but when I'm done they are always my favorite. So many small details to look at. Loved this family!
This was a uniques and special order. The mom asked me to draw her 9 year old daughter (with her favorite animal - dolphin) and surround her with positivity words. She sent me a list of beautiful words that describe her and I loved it!
The Nuffer family is awesome. I loved adding small details, like the passport in the husband's pocket because they travel and ballerina shoes for the daughter, and my favorite part are the toe shoes, and sandals. :)
My dear friend Holly asked me to draw her stepmom June and her children & grandchildren. Holly's father passed away (June's husband) and he is in the black frame. My husband helped me find the right skateboard logos to go with the skateboard.
The Bess family was a very dear project. I have never met them, but my friend Rebecca e-mailed me asking me to draw this sweet family. The mom has cancer and her diagnosis is not too good. She wanted this sweet mom to have a picture of them all together. Rebecca also told me about a camp that is near and dear to her heart, it is called Camp Kesem, it is for children who's parents have cancer. The Bess children are signed up to go this year. Here is a link to read more about it. I have never met this family but after drawing them I feel like we are close friends. They are in my thoughts and prayers often.
I took a cake decorating class with one of my oldest friends. We loved our instructor and loved hearing about her grandchildren she adores. In the end she taught us to decorate fabulous cupcakes & cakes and I drew her two daughters and their families.
People often ask to include a family dog or cat, this was a first for me, a pet snake. It was so fun to draw!!
This family was just so stinkin adorable! The dad & son love the Bulls, and the mom described her hair like "Shakira" and big hoop earrings. I loved drawing the son's blue glasses.
Remember that Scotland portrait I drew for John & Julia's 60th anniversary? Here is the link to the original post. One of the grandchildren, Michael (on the far left) asked me to draw his dear friends for their wedding present. Nick proposed to Vicki at this same location. I loved drawing this, and I especially loved drawing the Scottish kilt! Congratulations Nick & Vicki!
Holly is one of my most favorite people! She was one of my first customers several years ago and since then has ordered many portraits for friends & family, but I've never draw her AND her husband together. This year her good friend e-mailed me to draw a portrait for Holly & her husband. They truly are Mr. & Mrs. Fabulous!
My beautiful, hilarious and just wonderful niece is a senior in high school and we all adore her and her cute boyfriend. I wanted to draw them a portrait to remember but I couldn't decided which to draw, them in their Prom formal clothes, or casual clothes, so I drew both.
Here they are in their formal clothes . .
And here they are in their casual clothes. They really are this cute in real life!
Thank you again for letting me be apart of your family. Families are crazy. It's where you learn to fight, tease, pick on one another, but it is also the place where you learn to forgive, help, encourage, stand up for, and love one another. What a beautiful creation families are.
For this week I'm offering a special Valentine's Day offer. I'll draw you and your sweetheart for only $20, and that includes a shipped 5X7 print. I'll also e-mail you the digital file so you can print it any size you like. Click here for the link and more details.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/507206857/custom-couple-portrait-valentines-day?ref=shop_home_active_1