Navy Hospitalman Zachary Alday, 22

This is my second soldier portrait that I have painted for the Art From the Heart project and this one was really tough for me. I guess it was harder because I wasn't on such a short deadline like I was with Jamaal's portrait so I had more time to really think about him and his family. Needless to say this project has been a very emotional yet rewarding experience for me and the others involved but you don't realize how deep it touches you.

A local magazine is doing a 24 page article about the project and we have been editing the biographies of 30+ soldiers and I think once I am finished I will have to take a day and just cry. They were so young and had such great futures ahead of them. Not to mention all of the loved ones left behind.

Anyway, please visit our website to view all of the beautiful portraits that are being uploaded daily. And if you are in Atlanta on September 8th, please plan to attend our exhibition's opening. We would love to see you there! www.AtlantaFineArtsLeague.org/ArtFromtheHeart.html

FIRST PLACE AWARD

I won First Place for my Sky Road painting in the First Annual National Juried Exhibition Favorite Things.

Army Spc. Jamaal R. Addison

Army Specialist Jamaal R. Addison
(Posthumous)
Oil on Linen
20x24

Hi Everyone,
This is the painting I have been working on of my soldier. I, along with four friends created Art From the Heart where Georgia artists donate their time to paint the portraits of fallen Georgia soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan, free of charge for the families left behind.

This is Jamaal Addison and he was 22. He was the first soldier from Georgia to die in Iraq. I will be presenting this painting to his mother and family on March 23rd at a memorial service, the 4th anniversary of his death. I am really looking forward to it because this project has meant so much to me and I really have enjoyed painting him and getting to know him and his mother. If you would like to learn more or know of a family who might benefit from this project, please visit our website at www.AtlantaFineArtsLeague.org

Libby at 6 months

Libby at 6 Months
oil
NFS
I painted this in the Fall and thought I would share it. I have been working on a portrait of the first Georgia soldier to die in Iraq so I haven't been able to do any little sketches. Hopefully I will get back to it this coming week. Once the soldier is finished I will post him for you.

V-Day Left Over

V-Day Left Over ©

Oil

4x6

$100

I thought it might be fun to try to paint some of the left over valentine's day candy. I didn't get any for the holiday but they were on super sale at the store so I thought it could be fun to try to paint the fluffy centers. It wasn't. They turned out to be much harder than I thought. I think it turned out OK though. I bet it would have been a lot easier in pastel so I think I might try the next one in pastel. There is on with swirly stripes on it. I will paint that one without breaking it open!!

Quail Egg No.1

Quail Egg No.1
Oil
4x6
SOLD

I have been finishing up a couple of commissions so I have not been able to do any painting's-every-few-days until today. I was really happy with this one until I saw it on my computer and it seems like it lost something in the translation. I will have to try it again tomorrow. These little quail eggs-or pheasant eggs I don't know which, are really great!!

Blood Orange

Blood Orange ©
Pastel
4 x 5
$100

Untold Fortune

Untold Fortune ©
Pastel
3.5x3.5
SOLD

Lucky Fortune

Lucky Fortune ©
Pastel
4x5
SOLD
For some reason this took 15 tries to get a good photograph so it is hard to see the detail in the cookie itself. I guess it is because of the stark contrast in light and dark and the camera didn't like that .

Swirly Sucker #1

Swirly Sucker ©
3x10
$100

Pastel

I have been working on a pastel portrait and needed some information from the client so I took a break and painted this. I plan on painting this sucker again in oil but it was just so bright and colorful that I just couldn't resist doing it in pastel too.

You can double click on the image to enlarge it.