The Last Portrait Sitting of 2015-Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you and your loved ones.  

It seems entirely fitting my last life portrait sitting of 2015 is of my husband in his swish peacoat,  a work in progress,  via palette knife, 30x40". It was pretty chilly in the studio yesterday. That coat came in handy.

Thanks for supporting my art this year. It means the world. See you in 2016.

The Padster
Work in Progress
Via Palette Knife
By Johanna Spinks
www.johannaspinks.com

My New BFF, Dreama Tolle Perry

"Dreama Dreaming"
By Johanna Spinks
18x24"
In the collection of Dreama Tolle Perry

You could say this lady I just sketched is my new BBF!

I have admired artist/writer Dreama Tolle Perry for quite a few years now. She speaks in an art language uniquely her own. Her work is uplifting and witty, brilliant in execution, her joy for life contagious.

Dreama is the total art 'package'. She has carved out a loyal and large art following, teaching workshops across the country and selling everything she paints. She let's people into her life; she reveals that her favorite color is purple, chocolate has her at 'hello', and her cute cat Eddie frequently demands her attention, often being the star of her colorful paintings.

Ms. Perry changed the way I thought about art especially in my "High Days and Holidays" series of hat paintings, along with my personal sketch books.

 I realized that it was o.k. to paint, and reveal, my more fun, feminine side - alongside doing serious portrait commissions and public portrait projects.

"Spring Delicacy"
By Dreama Tolle Perry
www.dreamatolleperry.com

Fast forward to this Holiday week when I decided to paint this sketch of Dreama. We have become friends over the last year or so and Dreama being Dreama just did the most gracious post about our portrait's back story after seeing  it this week.

Read Dreama's post here hats-off-johanna-spinks

Also, if you are looking for a great motivational one-of-a-kind art experience Dreama is just about to launch her new art teaching baby, an online masterpiece course,  like no other, that she has been working on for months. It is called "Dream. Love. Paint" and promises to be very special. She even renovated a cottage just for the filming of the series. Painted purple/lilac of course!

http://dreamatolleperry.com/dream-love-paint/

"Pink, White and Ed"
By Dreama Tolle Perry
www.dreamatolleperry.com

"Mint Julips"
By Johanna Spinks
High Days and Holidays Collection
www.johannaspinks.com

Food for Thought...

With a fridge full of leftovers today amid this Season of Abundance and plenty for many, I am reminded of my current Face of Malibu portrait sitter Heidi Amundson who has tirelessly delivered food to the needy for many years with Meals on Wheels. I thought her a great choice for The Holiday Season. Thank you to The Malibu Times for featuring this series. Single life sitting, two hours.

Heidi Amundson
By Johanna Spinks
Sitter number 39
The Face of Malibu Portrait Project
As featured in The Malibu Times

A New Town Gets Painted...

Completing seven days of life sittings today for my new public portrait project east coast with a newspaper there. Mystery town soon to be revealed. 

This week: coffee count 100, oyster bake count 1, glamour ball count 1, wine count TBA, drawing count priceless. Thanks to Katherine Falls Mengedoht, this project's co-creator.

Here's a sneak peek behind the scenes. 

This new portrait project follows on from The Face of Ventura with The Ventura Breeze and The Face of Malibu with The Malibu Times, ongoing.

The Face of ...?
By Johanna Spinks
Stay tuned.

My Next Public Portrait Project

Leaving on a jet plane to start painting a new town with a new newspaper...excited. A week of sitters booked back to back. Face of Ventura with The Ventura Breeze Newspaper, Face of Malibu with The Malibu Times, The next Face of Of? Top secret but stay tuned - all will be revealed.