A Rare Portrait

A few months back I was asked if I would like to participate in a special art exhibit.  I would paint, and donate, a portrait of a child with a rare genetic disease.  As you might suspect, I got more than I gave.  When I dropped off the painting, the coordinator of the exhibit, Patricia, acknowledge the challenge of painting accurate portraits.  I then found out she had two children with genetic disorders.  The comparison of a lifetime of challenges vs. a few hours creating a portrait are such opposite extremes.  This will be the second exhibit and the number of artist who volunteered have tripled, some asking to do additional portraits.  The foundation is called the Rare Disease United Foundation, but Patricia's goal is to make the world know these disorders are not really rare.  There are over 7000 different genetic disorders affecting 30 million Americans; so there are lots of opportunities for future portraits.

Please check out my beautiful model Brenna's website, who has Harlequin Ichthyosis
 http://www.blessedbybrenna.com/
And the website for the first wonderful exhibit.
http://rarediseaseunited.org/programs/beyond-diagnosis-art-exhibit

Going Small

Texas Bluebonnets

I've been having fun with a challenge called The 100 Day Project (#the100dayproject on Instagram) where I'm supposed to do something everyday for 100 days. I decided to do 100 5x7s; mostly painting but any art form is acceptable

Narragansett Art Festival

I haven't enjoyed watching a weather forecast quite as much as I did this morning.  High 70's, mild breezes with 0% chance of rain for today and the weekend.  Having set up my booth in high winds and sitting sheltered during cold rain, my fellow artists and I REALLY appreciate this kind of weather.  I hope all the art lovers do, too.  The location is perfect for this weather as I'm across the street from the beach.  Come early to beat the sunbathers, swimmers and surfers.

"Breast Stroke"  18x24

I"m working on some smaller painting of surfers, just in case a waves are small and a few of the surfers come to check out the art festival.

Follow up:  This painting was my submission to the Wickford Art Association's Poetry and Art exhibit.  Below is the poem that was written inspired by my painting.  So honored!

First Swim
The shock of a bald scalp
under a swim cap, a soundless
shriek, mouth agape.
Anticipation. No, trepidation,

Stretching without discomfort
doing the breast stroke, thrusting
forward, pushing away
past months. Water laps

a lopsided swimsuit where
scraped tissue has been; a
weird sensation of asymmetry
bathes the incision like liquid

balm. Mimicking the curves
of the water’s bubbles
and ripples is the soft
geometry of the cap, the goggles.
In baptism, the swimmer renewed.
- Helen D'Ordine