Painting with Purpose

One of my resolutions for this coming year is to spend more time appreciating my family.  I try to take time at least once a week to visit either my mother or sister regularly, but I come from a really big family on both sides, so in order to truly stay close and in touch with all of them it takes considerable effort.  One of my first efforts in this direction was to make two paintings; one for each of my grandmothers.  When I set these canvases in front of me, this was my only intention, and visually they could have ended up as anything.  Oddly enough, they both ended up as portraits.  While they are not portraits of the women they are being given to, I think there's some subconscious symbolism to be spoken for that make them non-literal representations of my grandmothers.

Ana
8" x 10"
Acrylic on Canvas

This is the one for my paternal grandmother, Ana.  We (the family) don't actually call her by this name, but I think its beautiful and fitting.  The woman's stature is strong and calm, which is what I wish for my grandmother... strength and serenity.  The warm, glowing yellow and peacefully cascading blues and greens remind me of the energy I remember surrounding her when I was a child.  Warmth and comfort, the most you could wish for from a family.

Joanne
8" x 10"
Acrylic on Canvas

So of course this one is for my mother's mother, Joanne.  She and I have always been a lot alike, which she credits to the fact that my middle name was given to me for her (Giovanna = Joanna in Italian).  I like this piece as a representation of her because she is such a strong and forceful woman in most aspects of her life, but beneath the hard exterior she has such a big heart and so much love and compassion for her family, in spite of a fair share of craziness we've all been through in our lives. 

In conclusion, I'd like to dedicate this post and these two paintings to two of the most amazing and beautiful women I know... and thank you for being there to make me who I am today and our family what it is today.   I'm so incredibly grateful to have you both in my life.