Miles Tiles: redefined

I was contacted a few weeks ago to do a painting for an old high school friend that I reunited with on Facebook. Chrissy, ahem, sorry Chris, I found out lives about 15 mins away in Fishers and prior to that we lived a few blocks apart in Broad Ripple. Small world.  Anyway, Chris' little boy Miles turned one last weekend and she wanted to have a painting done spelling out his name.  I had her look at some of my completed works for inspiration and think about some of Miles' favorite things.  Since he is only one, that doesn't always help.  So Chris and her husband, Brendan decided on a baseball vignette.  Brendan is a HUGE Reds fan so they wanted the team playing to be the Reds.  I inquired further and asked if there were any favorite players that I could include or a team for them to play.  Brendan was on it, he emailed a list of players and their positions along with the opposing team: the Cubs.  It was a ton of fun because then I could have my little players take on the identities of the real thing!  So cool.  What is neat about this piece is that Miles can enjoy this in not only his bedroom, but a playroom and honestly I don't think it will lose its relevancy, unless of course he decides the Reds aren't for him or he decides to form a garage band and baseball isn't his thing.  I don't think Chris and Brendan have anything to worry about, at least for about 15 years!  Here are my newest Miles tiles:

I want to thank Chris and Brendan for allowing me to work on this special piece for your little fellas big day!  It was so much fun to do and I appreciate all your input. We're looking forward to seeing you soon!  Happy Birthday little Miles!  I really enjoyed doing these canvas' for you!

Thanks!

Four!!!!!

I am excited to show you another one of my Christmas gifts.  One I am pretty proud of, since I know nothing about what I painted.  I have a wonderful friend name Jen.  Jen and I have known each other for since we were about 11 or 12 - so a little over 20 years, which makes me feel a tad mature if you know what I mean, to have known someone other than my family for that long.  Needless to say, Jen is one of my very best friends.  She is known as Auntie Griff to my kids and she is officially Cyd's girlfriend and home away from home. (With all honestly he tolerates us, I believe, because she comes over and he goes to her house, but I digress)  Jen was an essential person for me and my family during the time my mom lived with us and ultimately died. She would come over and have dinner, visit with mom, mom felt very comfortable with Jen, so the turban would come off and mom would be "big mare" once again.  My mom would always sing that stupid girl scout song - "make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold..." when I would talk about Jen.  She was so happy that we had remained in touch and such good friends.  When we were in the days prior to losing mom Jen would show up and do what "good polish girls do, we cook!" and made several dinners, breakfast and miscellaneous snacks for me, my family, and my brother, Anna and dad.  She took the kids with her for a slumber party and Wii fest the night before mom died and kept them all day, the day of her passing.  She took time off work to watch the kids for me when we had mom's wake and funeral. 

She has been instrumental in my healing and I quite honestly don't know what I would do with out her.  I love her and she is the sister I was never given by blood.  All that being said, I wanted to do something special for her for Christmas.  She had mentioned eons ago about doing a golf painting.  So I thought, eureka!  So I did a golf scene with her nickname - Jen is quite the golfer and I could go on about her handicap and scores and such, but I have no idea what the hell it all means so I won't waste your time - but she's good and she loves it.  You would think that since I live on a golf course that I would be able to paint one up in a jiffy, but I didn't like the tee box I am on so I went online and found a beautiful course in Connecticut to model my scene. Without further ado....

I had to give my golfer a "pouf" of hair, because if you know Jen, you know that she has a pony tailed "pouf" at all times, it is adorable!

Four!

The dreaded sand trap!

I am pretty sure that Jen loved her gift and I am so very happy that it turned out, especially since I am, ahem "handicapped" when it comes to understanding golf.  Pun intended!  I believe it has found its spot above her desk in her office at home.  A perfect spot for a hobby/sport tribute!  There is more where this came from, so stay tuned and thanks!