Saturday Sentiment: Tears

Portrait Detail.

Watercolor on wet media canvas.

by Sherie Sloane

We all had our share of shedding some.  Go ahead, cry it out.  It doesn't make us weak, only more human.  

- Posted from my iPhone.

Blooming

Back to the lenses I go. Here's a quick straight out of the camera (SOTC) shot I took of my niece. She happily posed for this playful shot while we were celebrating her mom's birthday. We pulled out some roses (real ones) from grandma's vase. The blooms complemented the blush in her complexion.

To make this portrait shot interesting, I applied the 'rule of thirds' as I would in a painting. Fill 2/3 of the frame with your subject, find the right lighting (or set up one), then snap away. This was taken in the evening, thus the warm ambient lighting.

Looking at this portrait made me realized how grown up she is now. Years do go by quick indeed. It was just yesterday when she was just a wobbly toddler. Look at her now.

Portrait of a Doula

'A Doula's Portrait'

9 x 12 inches. Mixed media on Paper. (c) 2010.

This is a painting of Sue O'Malley, our birth doula and our newborn. I've often been asked what a doula is and why we used one.

Doulas provide support during pre-natal and actual childbirth, as well as postpartum care. They do not perform clinical tasks such as heart rate tests or exams that doctors and midwives do. Rather, they use massage, positioning suggestions, emotional support, etc., to help labor to progress as well as possible.

Having a doula allowed us to have a completely natural birth. My husband and I were able to focus on the birth without having to worry about any interventions or interruptions that might have taken our attention away.

If you're expecting a child, I highly recommend considering hiring a doula to help you prepare for your 'birth day'.

A Beautiful Engagement

'A Beautiful Engagement'

Watercolor on Paper. 9 x 12 inches. (c) 2010.

I painted this as a wedding shower gift to my cousin. They got engaged last fall in Morton Arboretum.

I love what his fiancee's sister said at the shower last weekend. "The wait may seem forever, but when the right one comes along, it will be all worth it."

The House Portrait

Our first house portrait

He drew in ink

Big oak tree stands tall

With deep blue skies

He's not crafty but made me

A neat handmade birthday card

With colorful pencils he wrote

You're unlike any other mother

Others just feed and bathe

Let little ones sleep alone

You sing and dance while

Holding his hands

Even when he cries out loud

You patiently cuddles

Rocks him to la-la land

I hear sighs but also see smiles

Auntie I may be thirteen

But I already know

You are one of the best mom

I've ever seen

Thank you Micah for a beautiful card and message.