Lovely Limbs.

After a brief stint of painting small houses and cabins over the winter, I find myself painting figures of children in summery scenes again.  It is a subject that flows out of my brush most naturally, for now.  That’s not to say I don’t struggle with the images, but it’s a puzzle I like trying to figure out.  

I am captivated by my daughters' growing bodies – children's growing bodies. The soft, slight curve of arm between elbow and shoulder, and the curves of their limbs in general.  In simple terms: baby fat!  As their bodies grow the muscle and bone structure is continually changing.  I want to take these changes and commit them to memory.  In warmer weather their lovely little limbs are exposed in t-shirts, shorts and swimsuits which makes painting them possible.

The other reason I paint summer scenes is for the treasure box of memories. We all have them; summer smells, sounds and sights - too many to name.  With two children of my own I now have the memory of their experiences to add to mine, filling my treasure-box all the more.