Mississippi Evening Glow: Acrylic Painting In Progress

There’s something magical about walking near the water at dusk—especially along the backwaters of the Mississippi River. On a recent walk down a quiet biking trail, I was struck by the warm, hazy atmosphere. The evening light had a glowing quality, thanks in part to the haze drifting down from the Canadian wildfires. The soft golden tones and the stillness of the landscape stayed with me—and that’s where the inspiration for my latest painting began.

I’m working on a 22 x 28-inch canvas in acrylic, a size that gives me enough space to play with depth and light. To start, I laid down a yellow-orange underpainting to capture the warmth I felt that evening. This base gives a gentle glow to everything that follows, almost like the light behind the memory.

Next, I blocked in the darker shapes of the trees and lower foliage. For that, I mixed blues with touches of orange—leaning on the contrast to build some early structure in the composition. The shadowy areas started to take form, grounding the piece.

The sky, of course, had to be something special. I created a blend using cerulean blue and Prussian blue with white, then added just a dash of dioxazine purple to echo the moodiness of the haze. It’s subtle, but it gives the sky a dreamy, almost surreal quality that matches the evening I remember.

This is just the beginning—there’s still much to refine, layer, and bring to life. Stay tuned as I share more progress in the coming days. I’m excited to see where this painting takes me—and I hope you’ll follow along.

Complete: Remembering Molly

Just wrapped up this little cutie! This portrait was painted on an 8x10 canvas using acrylics. The reference photo was quite dark, with limited detail, and—since it was the only photo the owner had of their beloved pet who has since passed—I had to get a bit creative.

To bring more life and warmth into the piece, I lightened the background to a soft greenish-blue and deepened the red of the blanket she was laying on. I chose to omit the white and yellow blanket in the original image to help the composition flow better and draw more focus to the pet. The owner also requested a collar with her name, which I was happy to incorporate.

Considering the challenges, I’m really pleased with how it turned out. While I usually prefer painting portraits in oils for their richness and blending qualities, time was a factor for this one. Acrylics were the better choice for a quicker turnaround, especially to avoid muddied colors while working in layers.

Now… onto my next painting project!

Photo 

Remembering Molly—A Portrait of Love and Legacy

This pet portrait, Remembering Molly, is nearly complete—just a few final touches and it will be on its way to its new home. Each time I create a portrait of a beloved pet or person who has passed on, I’m deeply reminded of how fleeting and precious life truly is. One moment we’re here, and the next we’re a memory.

As difficult as loss can be, it’s a powerful reminder of how deeply we can love. A painting has the ability to capture the spirit, warmth, and personality of a life once lived—a life that still lingers in the hearts of those left behind. It’s my hope that each portrait I create brings comfort, joy, and a lasting connection to those cherished memories.

I feel truly honored and blessed to do this work.

As a hairstylist, I’ve also had the solemn privilege of giving some of my late clients their final hairstyle for their wake. It’s a tender responsibility that I never take lightly. Whether through hair or paint, I feel called to help people honor the ones they love.

Some call it a calling. Others say it’s a God-given talent. Whatever it is, I know it’s my passion—and it gives my life purpose.

Remembering Through Art: A Portrait of a Beloved Companion

My next painting is a commissioned piece—a portrait of a client’s beloved pet who has passed away. She only had one photo to share, which makes the process more challenging. With just a single image, I lose the benefit of multiple perspectives and the chance to truly capture the pet’s personality. To make it more difficult, the photo is quite dark and lacks fine detail. Still, I’ll work with what I have and do my best to bring this cherished companion to life on canvas.

Stay tuned to see how this sweet fur baby emerges, one brushstroke at a time.

Kelp In Motion: Complete

After several attempts to incorporate something unusual into this project, I ultimately decided to stick with the fish. At first, I had planned to include a mermaid or even a sunken ship—maybe both. But after some thoughtful consideration, I realized those additions might overwhelm the painting and make it feel too busy, especially given the limited size of the canvas. In the end, simplicity won out. Perhaps in a future piece, on a larger canvas, I’ll revisit the idea and let the mermaid take center stage.

Gift Of A Portrait Continued

The painting below was initially completed, but something didn’t sit right with me—the background felt off, and the hair color wasn’t quite what I had envisioned. To bring it closer to what I wanted, I deepened the background using a mix of burnt sienna, raw umber, and medium yellow, which gave it more warmth and depth. I also darkened the hair and made subtle adjustments to the skin tone. I'm much happier with how it's coming together now. The forehead still needs a bit more blending before I apply the final varnish, but overall, the changes have brought the piece closer to my original vision.

Link of post of original painting

Portrait received 

Gift Of A Portrait

Portrait painting is always a challenge. Capturing someone’s likeness from a single photograph often comes with its own set of hurdles—colors can feel off, and lighting isn’t always ideal. I’ve yet to try painting from life, as my sketching skills are still a work in progress. For now, I rely on printing the reference photo and using tracing paper to emboss the basic outline onto the canvas. It’s a method that helps me place the eyes, nose, and mouth proportionally, giving the portrait a solid foundation.

This particular piece was painted in acrylics on an 11x14 canvas and is a graduation gift for my niece. While I see areas that could use further refinement, I made the decision to stop before I risked overworking it and dulling the vibrancy. Working under a time constraint definitely has its drawbacks, but at least this piece will be delivered—rather than joining the stack of my many “misfit” paintings waiting in the wings.