Jolie Guillebeau

I thought we’d end the week with an extra dose of cute. This is Maia. She’s about seven months old and she’s totally rocking the pink pajamas in this photo. Her mom, Liz, sent it over and the cuteness is almost more than I can bear.

On that note, I hope you have a great weekend. Birthday celebrations continue here at Chez Guillebeau!

Another pair for you today! Jen and Chris are celebrating their fourth anniversary today. Happy Anniversary guys– I hope it’s a wonderful day!

This week is all about pairs of faces. And this one is a special pair. This is Amy and her son Alex, when Alex was about a week old.

I love the connection that comes through so clearly. And I loved painting these faces.

I’m 34 today and that has me thinking.

First, I’m thinking about how lucky I am. I’m so grateful that I can do what I love to do and make a living at it. It’s really amazing. I realize that being born with access to education, clean water, and healthcare is a big part of that. Also, having support and encouragement from people around me that believe in me and my work makes this possible. I’m so grateful.

I’m also thinking about why I paint. Part of it is a compulsion to make things. Paintings, knits, pastries, random crafty bits, pretty plants in pots on the balcony are requirements in my life. I need beauty. I think everyone does.

But why do I paint what I paint? What is it about old toys or tulips arranged a certain way that inspires me? I’m sensing a shift…

Either way, I’m looking forward to what 34 is holding for me.

Today’s my birthday! I’m officially old.

To celebrate, I’m letting you in on one of my big secrets. We’re really opening the circle of trust here, okay?

I was terribly ugly as a kid. No, really. People say that, but I really was. This painting is from a photo sometime around my third birthday, just after I’d given myself a very short haircut, and when I had no teeth.

I’m wearing a cowboy vest– I think there was a hat that went with the outfit and with my short hair I really look like a boy. But the toothless grin almost makes up for my shortcomings. Even though I look like a boy, it’s still one of my favorite pictures.

Yesterday, I was thrilled to have a small painting adventure. I sat in the front window at Muse Art and Design as part of their Artist-A-Day project.

For the month of April, Muse shares its space with 30 artists. Each artist creates a painting on the day they’re in the store, and the paintings are auctioned off to benefit Art programs in Portland Public Schools.

Yesterday, I arrived at Muse with a blank panel and by 6pm, I had completed this. I titled it Face-off. And then I realized that I’d completed my face painting for the day at the same time!

Here’s a fun story from Muse about my day, too! Go read it!

16×20 Oil on Birch Panel. Muse is accepting bids until May 12– and you can call 503-231-8704 to bid. They’ll ship to you as well!

Dani is the first person to request a color in her face. She told me that she really loves pink, so she was hoping I could find a way to put a little pink in her painting.

Since one of the first things I say when teaching someone about painting is that color doesn’t matter as long as you have the right values, I thought I’d play with color. So I used pink all the way through. I hope you like it Dani!

Portland peeps! Stop by this Sunday to see me paint in the window of Muse Art and Design! I’ll be there painting from 11-6.

Natasha sent me this photo of her mom and as I read what she wrote, I was impressed. Her mom was one of the first ten women in the U.S. to recieve a Ph.D in Mathematics, then devoted her life to advocating for civil rights in the South.

Now she’s in her seventies, and continues to teach, but also recently took up photography.

What an amazing person behind a remarkable face. Thanks for sharing her with me, Natasha.

Portland peeps! Stop by this Sunday to see me paint in the window of Muse Art and Design! I’ll be there painting from 11-6.

Sophia has two older brothers, and she can hold her own with both of them. I saw these photos on Facebook a few months ago, and loved looking at their snow battles.

In this photo, she’s bunching up a snowball and getting ready to hurl it at someone. Her eyes are bright and her laugh comes right through the screen. So I was really happy when her mom sent the photo over in hopes that I’d paint it.

I hope it shows her spunk.

Cara sent me this photo with a question:

“Does a teddy bear face count? My daughter Jessica graduates from high school next month and we’re really proud that she’s been accepted to a great school for the fall. We’re moving as well, so we’re packing up a few things and I want her to have a memento of Harold, her favorite bear. His ear is crooked because my sewing skills are terrible, but that’s just a sign that he’s well loved. Any chance you could paint him for us?”

With pleasure. World, meet Harold the Bear.

A nice surprise this weekend– my painting appeared in theneighborhood paper!