I did not have time to do a regular portrait today cause I needed to spend all the time I had on this painting . . . 

 I think the couple, birds, and words took about an hour so I'm counting that as my portrait.  It is a symbolic picture of a couple who are getting married on Saturday.  They want to be missionaries so the sun is reflecting the world.  It was a fun picture to do! 

I spent another 45 min on this portrait today! :)  

 A fabulous idea that I used to keep Kalvyn occupied yesterday while it was too hot to go outside, and we couldn't drive anywhere.

 Set him loose in the tub with watercolors! :)

 Turned on the shower and he cleaned it up himself! Then had a bath!!!!!

                                       I was a good activity!

Willow and foster mom again.  Not quite done.  I am doing a portrait for Willow to keep too . . . 

This is an hour . . . I'll finish tomorrow!
 

And here is Willow . . . 

                      Isn't she just the sweetest face ever! :)

I have the privilege of being commissioned to do another beautiful little girl adopted from Korea!  This is her foster mom.  It is the sweetest idea these adopted moms.  Getting a portrait made for the foster mom to let them know they appreciate the love they have poured into their babies.  I have enjoyed working on these!
This is Willow's foster mom!

I was in the mood to watercolor a portrait . . . 

So many things have been happening and I haven't had time to do detailed posts!  So I'm going to do a few updates.  We had our family vacation the last two days.  A day at Adventureland inn, and a day at Adventureland.  You should have seen the changes in Kalvyn's confidence over the two days.  He acclimated to the water like a fish finding his true home! :)  He loves the water just like his daddy.  Here are some pictures taken through the two days.

                                      A whole day of playing in two different pools with water slides!!!!

 Loved the tea cups :)

That was fun dad!!!!

 We had fun at the water park but didn't take any pictures!





On the Farris wheel!

 We did love riding horses . . .

Following an old family tradition we got Kalvyn a candy stick and waited for the train! :)

Enjoying the ride and the treat!

 And that was quite enough for one family vacation . . .

Great two days! :) Too much sun and water, but that equals a lot of fun!  More on all this tomorrow. I did a quick portrait tonight, now off to bed.  I picked a model cause they are easy to draw. . . 

 

I did the cardinal in about an hour.  This was from my week art camp.  More on that later! :)  We are off on a two day vacation now!!!! So excited! I will post late tomorrow night!

 

It was a year ago today I watch my older sister take her last breath.  I will never forget it. I still relive it in dreams.  Yes it was beyond heartbreaking, but it was also beautiful.  Becca had been suffering for years, she was ready to go home.  I know she was heartbroken to leave her babies though.  A few minutes before she died she tried to whisper something in my ear.  She couldn't get it out, but when I assured her her babies were OK and we would always take care of them, she relaxed and closed her eyes.  I'm sure her last earthly thoughts were of them. 

 I love you big sis so very much!  I miss being able to call and tell you every little thing happening in my life!  You have and still do inspire me in so many ways!  Can't wait to see you in eternity. :-)


We had a wonderful family evening last night to just sit and share memories.  I didn't post this last night cause it was so late when I got home.  That was a good thing though! :)  I'm glad we took that time.  I have a wonderful family, and I'm so grateful for each one of them.

Today I did a portrait of Becca at age 8. Just a year older than her first born is now.  Becca will have left her earthly body a year ago tomorrow.  Words can not express how much I miss my big sis. . .

Photo coming . . .

I did do my Grandma's portrait, but I forgot my camera at my parents today.  So I have no way of putting the picture on my blog.  I will load it tomorrow afternoon.  

Still don't have that camera . . . but the picture didn't really turn out so maybe it's best.


  Happy Birthday Grandma!  You are amazing, can't believe how spunky you are at 93.  You inspire me!  :)  The legacy you are setting for your family is beautiful.  Thanks for always being willing to learn and grow.  I appreciate your love for me! Love you a million slaps on the back!!!!!! 

It just didn't turn out looking like them.  I needed larger picture. . . not having an almost three year old hanging on my arm would have helped too! :)

Drawing my grandpa Juon tonight was so special.  I played so many memories over in my head as I drew.  It feels like such a very long time since I have seen him.  We use to tell jokes back and forth.  I think I tried to learn new ones just so I'd be able to tell them to Grandpa.  
Merlan Juon . . . 

 I is not done. I was pretty tired tonight so my drawing has been slow.  It was a busy day . . . 

Aunt Donna and I took Kalvyn to see my niece Kenzie at the fair for a horse show.  That brought back lots of memories too! :)  I love my dates with Aunt Donna watching horse shows. . . 

 I think Kalvyn will like these dates too!

 "Hanging" out!

 Must have a snack!

Another busy day away from home!  Grabbed one of my husbands CD covers.  Michael W. Smith.  

 I'm pretty excited about tomorrow's portrait, and the next day.  I'm going to do my grandma and grandpa Juon.  My Grandma is having her birthday party on Sunday so it will by my gift! :)  So hopefully she will not see my blog for the next few days.

Bobcat . . . 

 Kalvyn has fallen in love with water this week.  He has gone to the Ankeny pool the last three days.  I think next summer a pool pass will be a must.  Here he is playing with is friend Eddie . . . 

 He will even go under the water on his own now!

A dear friend of mine who has been inspiring me lately to reach out for my dreams . . . 

Still praying . . . 

 Beautiful little Elizabeth!  Praying you and your cousin are found safe and sound soon. 




We had a wonderful time at the Swanson family reunion yesterday!  It was great to catch up with everyone.  My sisters were a hit as always with the little ones . . . 

I think many of us in Iowa are heart sick for the little girls that are missing from Evansdale, and their families.  They have been on my mind and in my prayers a great deal.  Elizabeth Collin 9, and Lyric Morrissey 11.  Such young girls, and they both look so sweet and beautiful.  Since they are on my mind I decided to draw them.  It does help me learn there faces well.  I drew Lyric (beautiful name) today. . . . 

Praying that both these girls are found safe and sound very soon! 

There have been a few changes on my computer lately, and for some reason I can't load my pictures off my camera at the moment.  I will have to call someone and figure this problem out.

I drew a picture of my niece Karis at two.  She has grown up so much! Today I went to here 7th birthday party.  She is a beautiful treasure . . .  

 

The cousins all had such fun together. . . 

 

Debbie Reynolds in Singing in the Rain!  I did this one in a half hour tonight. . . 

 

A dear friend (sister) Bethany Johnson.  I picked up her CD, which is amazing, to draw from the cover.  It;s a picture taken by Megan of Capri Photography. 
You are beautiful Bethany, and I didn't do you justice!

 Thanks for following my blog sweetie!!!! :)

Getting the printer fixed tomorrow so I just grabbed one of my husband's school books and did the portrait on the back!

 

I have not painted on canvas for a very long time.  I needed to get myself back into it so my portrait today is part of a painting.  This painting has been sitting on my easel for months.  It is an idea that I got visiting a zoo.  Jelly Fish are so beautiful, and this will be a large canvas covered in them. . . 

 This is my portrait of a Jelly Fish!  I will post the whole painting when it is done.


Kalvyn has mostly been an angel with potty training lately.  I'm so glad the time has paid off.  He has been a little bit ornery with other things though.  I don't know if it's just being a boy, but he is very destructive. He is always jumping on me.  The other day he took a knee to my face . . . he was so sorry after that he cried tears.  You can see them here . . .

 He also thought he needed to ice his face with mommy! :)

So proud of my hubby!  He has just finished clinicals. With flying colors I might add!  Love you baby!

Yesterday was the first day since I started that I did not was to draw at all!  Too busy!  I finally forced myself at 10:30 to draw something. . . 

 I'm more motivated today again though. . . so we will see what i find to draw! :)  This is not easy, but worth it! I'm improving for sure!!!!

This is a beautiful little lady adopted from Korea.  Please pray she will be home with her adopted family by her birthday in September.  Alyvia . . . 

Kalvyn has taken a wonderful turn in potty training last night and all day today!  I think we are almost there to being completely potty train!  Cross my fingers. :)

It was a beautiful evening!  I took my son outside and I drew while he play in his make shift sandbox.  After we were done drawing we did some exploring.  Saw a dragonfly up close.  At the word dragon Kalvyn clutched my neck tight.  :)  It was a good adventure.  

When you pick the perfect portrait picture to go by it is best to have one where the mouth is closed in a pleasant expression.  A smile does transform the face, and sometimes teeth look awkward in a portrait.  It takes a skilled artist to put them in, and get them right. I'm still working on it . . . 

 

You can tell by this picture that it has been a long week and i have a headache.  :(  I wanted to do so well too.  Brian and I have been watching the Andy Griffith show lately.  To hear he died this week is very sad . . . 

 

This has been a rather hard time for my poor little blog.  Just to assure you all, I have been drawing very faithfully.  I just can't seem to post it.  We have been having trouble with our air, so I stayed the night at my parent's.  For some odd reason I can't get my pictures onto any of the computers here.  I did a little baby from South Africa last night.  I will get the picture on as soon as I can.  

Happy 4th!!!! God bless this country!  I'm off to the pool with my family, and fireworks tonight.  We may be staying in a hotel tonight so I wont see this computer again till tomorrow morning.  Here is 25min of my portrait.  I will do the rest at the pool and post it tomorrow.

Eagle as a symbol of today