Since I am almost finished with the miniatures I decided to try to wrap up this birthday image too. Since the whole painting is about the candle glow, I am concentrating on all the chiaroscuro effects to heighten the bright light. This is a great challenge. If you have never done this, just keep in mind that the light will not look bright if there is no contrast. I begin with the basic image, then I use darker colors to darken areas that are opposite the light. Now, in places that are really dark, I do not choose black. Instead, I mix shades that will darken without killing the reality of the factual color. For instance, the purple icing is facing us but is opposite the candle light. Our brain must know the purple is still there and in reality, the ambient light would let us perceive this. I will go darker and darker till it seems right. When painting darkened Caucasian skin it can be quite difficult to darken it without making it look like the skin has changed color. Just know that our brain will over ride that dirty blotchiness. It will read as shadowed skin. I’m also having trouble with darkening the side of the cake with white icing. Paying attention to shadows and candle brightness reflecting on it will help. I’ll show this again when it is finished. This is two days in a row where I have experienced loss of vision because of brief migraines ( one to two hours). That makes portrait features tough to paint. But, I consider myself blessed because I don’t get these often and they don’t make me sick. Blessings to all of you who have those things to deal with. Shalom, Diana

This is a quick photo of Too Soon Gone. She is an allegory depicting the loss of innocence of our most vulnerable of society. Our children, both male and female, fall victim to predators even when we think they are protected. We read of three hundred school children being kidnapped and human trafficking all over the world but with Covid, our closest loved ones fall victim to the pressures of this plague. We must be more aware and more vigilant. We cannot think of this as a vague and distant problem.
Too Soon Gone was entered in the 2020 SAMA Biennial at Loretto, Pa. The museum is on the campus there at St. Francis. No reception was held because of the pandemic but the museum had their doors open for casual viewers. The art displayed was phenomenal. Any artist should be happy just to be included in this show. I have received awards here in the past and it was easy to see that almost any of these pieces could have been chosen for special recognition. I brought my painting home after the closing date and a few weeks later I received a phone call from Jess Campbell. She was calling to give me the news that my painting had been chosen for the special honor of People’s Choice! My work has gotten this award in many shows but I was truly amazed for this particular time. The show was packed full of good, really good work. There were three pieces that were getting most of the votes and mine inched forward. I send a special thank you to all who honored her with your appreciation and vote.
I am almost finished with the seven miniatures. The first one I painted did not meet my standards for likeness so I began a replacement. Soon I will post a comparison and update you on the final work. I have the birthday candle painting close to complete but I want to be sure it has the deep, dark and shadowy atmosphere of the candlelight. I don’t want to rush it forward. There are four or five incomplete paintings that I must concentrate on. I don’t like having them unfinished but they each have quandaries that have stopped progress. The biggest problem for me is that there are also at least that many more subjects waiting for my attention!!! I always abandon a painting for another of higher quality or subject interest. These miniatures were started five years ago. I am glad I went back to them.
My health problems have been put on ‘delay’ both by my doctors and my body. I was able to get the pain stopped by a two week liquid diet and my doctors passed me off to a new one because they have no idea what to check next. This new DR gave me an appointment for a quarter year away!!! What amount of concern does that show? Well, I’m about ready to do like my grandparents and forsake doctors altogether. They never went to doctors or took modern meds and lived to 100. Ok, I have presented too much so I should sign off. Have a good rest. Hugs and Shalom, Diana