Grandpa's Lap

      "Grandpa's Lap"

      20"x16" oil on canvas

      Beverly Gurganus

Early spring 2015 my mother suffered a massive stroke that left her with difficulties in speaking and in mobility (her left side to be exact).  She spent a week in the hospital and then 2 months in a rehabilitation center.  We visited her several times a week and always on Sunday evenings after church.  On one particular Sunday visit, we visited out in the common area where most of us sat on the couch, but my Dad was in one of the arm chairs with my daughter sitting on his lap.  They seemed to be in their own little world laughing and looking through pictures in a magazine.  I pulled out my phone and snuck a couple of photos with the full intention of recreating the moment on canvas.

This piece has been completed for about a month, and I'm just getting around to posting this...I find it fitting that Grandparent's Day is the day that it is getting posted.

Happy Grandparents Day!

Sophistication

"Sophistication"

16"x20" Oil on Canvas

Beverly Gurganus

Last summer I took my daughter to Hobbs Studio to have her senior portraits taken.  Jeannie,the photographer, did the traditional drapery pose along with three other outfit changes.  We were allowed to bring props so we took a beautiful red velvet like chair that we found at the thrift store as well as our little spoiled yorkie.  It was fun watching Jeannie work her magic.

Several weeks later we recieved a call to come and view the images, and to select the ones we wanted to purchase.  We went through each pose and started eliminating the ones we didn't like first, and then (continuing with the process of elimination) we made our final selections.  When it came to the formal dress poses, I had a favorite, but my daughter had a different favorite... I let her pick the one she liked.

I couldn't get the other picture out of my mind...I saw visions of it in oil paint.  I'm not one who feels comfortable asking for things, but again putting myself out there; I sent a message to Jeannie (Must be getting brave in my maturing age) asking her to grant me permission to attempt an oil painting of her photographed portrait of my daughter.  She generously printed off a photocopy of the portrait.  I was so excited to get started.

Above is my interpretation of the portrait that Jeannie @Hobbs Studio photographed.  Thank you Jeannie!

Self portrait in oil

I 

"Measuring Me"

20"x16" Oil on Canvas

Beverly Gurganus

I have been painting for several years now, and I still have a hard time with putting my art "out there".  I'm very critical of my work especially when I compare it to other artists' works.  

I came upon a painting competition sponsored by Jerrysartarama and decided it was time to climb out of my safe cozy box.  I knew that placing in the competition was slim, but that wasn't my ultimate goal (it can take many tries and lots of growing to reach that level in competitions). My objective is to start getting my work entered and let time and experience do the rest.

Above is my entry in the Jerrysartarama self portrait competition for 2015.  Now you all know what I look like when I'm in full concentration while painting.  😀

Portrait of Grandma

Last month I lost my last grandparent.  My father's parents passed away before I was born so I grew up with one set of grandparents.  They lived in a different state so we visited them most christmas vacations and every summer...we loved going to grandma's house!

Grandma made the best waffles, had the biggest selection of dry cereal in her cabinet, and gave us plenty of soda pop (that is what she called soft drinks).  My grandparents lived in a log cabin style home with a porch that was high off the ground.  When arriving, we would find them sitting in the rocking chairs waiting for us with arms ready for hugs.  

My siblings and I have so many fond memories at "Grandma and Grandpa's house". We walked over the mountain to to the old country store where you could still get candy for a penny.  I can still close my eyes and hear the wood planks of the floor creak as we would walk throughout the store.  Beside the store was an old post office where we would fetch the mail for my grandparents (no mailboxes in that small town...not even house numbers).  If we were not walking to the small town store or post office, we could be found walking on the rail road tracks smelling the coal and tar that radiated from the tracks as a result from the hot sun.  Those were simple days... Hide and go seek, Simon Says, Mother May I, and Red Light Green Light kind of days.

My grandmother was 97 when she left this world.  She out lived my grandfather by 18 years, but is now with him, her daughter, and most importantly; her Savior.  She left behind two sons and a daughter (my Mom) along with many grand children and Great grand children.  We will miss her, but we are comforted to know that we will see her again!

Grandma Burchett

11x14 Oil on Canvas

Beverly Gurganus

Self portrait study 1

Self Portrait Study 1

8x10 Oil on Gallery Stretched Canvas

Beverly Gurganus

I have found comfort in painting from photos... Lighting never changes, subject never moves, and I can work at my leisure.  As I continue to grow, I find myself dissatisfied with settling in my comfort zone.  I was inspired by another artist who is an amazing portrait artist with beautiful self portraits.  So...yesterday I dug out a large mirror from the attic, cleaned it off, propped it up, and adjusted the lighting as best as I could in my studio then got to work.  I tried to limit my time sketching and gave myself permission to just experiment without great expectations.

Most of my recent portraits have been of cooler flesh tones so it took me a bit of trial and error mixing my olive skin tones.  I think I will try a few more selfie studies; then I will start enlisting other models...better keep my friends and family happy 😉

Her and Hen

"Her and Hen"

11x14 Oil on Gallery Stretched Canvas

Beverly Gurganus January 2015

Out of the five people in our family, my youngest daughter (7 yrs old) has joined me in the love of raising backyard hens.  From the first day I brought those tiny fluffy chicks home she has been right by my side helping me take care of them.  She has become my Little Chicken Farmer.

I took a photo of my daughter with each of the 6 hens on their first day forging outside of the coop.  I fell in love with the photo of her holding our fluffy Buff Orpington and knew that it would make it to my canvas.