Gabriella

I was approached by a very good old friend, Caryn, to do a nursery piece for her cousin's new baby girl, Gabriella. A bit of background on us, Caryn and I met after I had Jon and she had her son Noah, who is a week older than Jon.  We met at a breast feeding support group and after a few weeks of talking we found out that we lived a few blocks apart in the same neighborhood - she and several others became my "booby buddies, " that made that first year of motherhood so much more bearable and fun!  Since then, we've had more kids, we've moved and our babies are now first graders, but we've kept in touch.  Of course if any of you have school aged children, you realize how challenging it is to get together for "play dates." That being said, we've been able to see or talk a few times a year and it is one of those friendships where time doesn't seem to matter.  

When Caryn asked me to meet up for coffee and discuss her cousin's piece, I looked forward to both catching up and brainstorming.  I was thrilled - I know, I'm always thrilled, but really I just love the fact that I get to do so many custom pieces. What was so fun was that Caryn gave me a basic idea of what she wanted, but really let me run with my own ideas.  I always surprise myself because at first it's all blank, and then I just can't stop the ideas - it all comes together almost instantly.  I liken it to anything else, the more you do or stretch your creative "muscles" the better you get or the easier it comes to you.  Anyway - Caryn wanted flowers, she wanted something that would go nicely over a crib or changing table, and the room had chocolate brown and pink in it and espresso stained furniture.  I decided with this piece to step away from my Gerber daisies and do a flower similar to a dogwood blossom.  I used a variety of pinks, peaches and yellows with my trademark "dots" - as Jon calls them and added some fun chocolate brown polka dots and super colorful butterflies.  The result was adorable!  What I love best about this piece is that it embodies what I try to achieve with all my paintings - something that will transition from nursery to toddler to child.  This piece with no doubt go beautifully in Gabriella's nursery, but I can see this canvas still being relevant when she is 7 or 8.  I'll stop going on and just share these pictures!

Happy

Little

Butterflies!

Thank you Caryn for allowing me to do this beautiful canvas for your cousin.  It was a true treat and I am so happy with how it turned out and so flattered that you liked it as much as you did.  I am so excited to hear about how it looks in Gabriella's nursery.  Thanks again!