When I was researching polynesian girl images on google, I found very few clothed females. Since this was for a children's dental office, I thought I should censor the inappropriateness.
And here's the other side of the wall. You may remember it from here. And here are some oldies/goodies for your drooling pleasure.
In this office there are large flat screen TVs in the walls that play a continuation of whatever's on in the waiting room, and will feature cordless headphones. (Also cool, from an adult standpoint, is that this office is ALL Green...completely paperless, including the x-rays.)
Art. It all comes down to art. If I am truly honest, I could say it's also about money.
I certainly have made a few great friends, several of whom love and support me, many of you are wowed when I put up a new painting, but I'd hardly say I've made a steady income from my work. But I'm not ready to give up. This is often a conversation I have with my husband, and he is just as frustrated as I about how to do it, but neither of us knows what to do. But I'm not ready to give up yet, I keep plugging away.
And truthfully, honestly, that's probably the best part. That's also why I teach. I've had students ask me to make something for them to purchase from me, and I always respond by telling them I'd rather TEACH them to do it themselves. Then there's the student who will never go on after my class to do anything in the field, but if I've taught them to use their BRAIN differently, to learn to be creative problem solvers in life, then I've done my job. I don't mind if they don't become artists.
Why do you blog?
Meet my kids! This is Russia, USA, Mexico, India, Africa, China, France, Holland, and Iran.
In the backgrounds are St. Basil's cathedral (did you know those onion domes are called Kokoshnikis?), and of course, the Statue of Liberty and the Golden Gate Bridge...
That's Chichen Itza behind little Paco and his Chihuahua...
The Taj Majal, and Mt. Kilimanjaro...
The Great Wall of China and the Eiffel Tower (do you know who built the Eiffel Tower? I'll send a free gift to whomever posts first...and didn't look it up!)
Holland and her Tulip field and windmill...
Iran (the owner's daughter here) with Persepolis and Cyrus the Great's Tomb. 
This is the other really cool part I told you to expect. This globe houses the x-ray machine, and was the impetus for the whole "Children Around the World" theme.
This was the fastest part, the whole thing took us 7 hours. Those little stick kids really crack me up!
I am so glad to be done. This mural took me far too long...48 hours of work ( I estimated around 30), but it was far less than if I hadn't had the assistance of my trusty intern, Allison.
My intern, Allison, stopped by for a couple of hours, and in the meantime, watched me struggle with the last portrait, one that happens to be the Persian patron's daughter, standing in for Iran. I got so frustrated that I handed the pencil to Allison and said, "You do it." And do it she did. She drew in the face and left me to paint it. I don't know where I'd be without that angel of a girl.
I also finished Mexico with Chichen Itza, and added the Golden Gate bridge to USA for a coast to coast vibe. Iran's background is yet to be completed...maybe tomorrow?
Oh, this girl is tired. Long day. But I loved every minute of it. I can't believe how quickly 7 hours passes, especially when it's just me and the paint (and an iPod); no workers, no one to distract me. Very productive. And it's back to it tomorrow for a half-day. And as I sit here, nearly too tired to type, I wonder if I'm crazy for trying to blog about this each night.
I fought with the American boy and I won, well, I guess he won too, because he's pretty cute now. The statue of Liberty looks fabulous, don't you think? And I'm in love with how St. Basil's came out. I totally dig it. Alright, I'm going to bed before I embarrass myself with mediocre writing skills and bore you all to death.
Oh, and my husband is quite upset that he has to be wearing a Padres hat, but at least I made it Dodger blue for him. And as an added homage to Jon, he's also a left-handed pitcher, ready to throw a fast ball, did you catch that?
Last week the floor went in at the dental office, so I wasn't able to do any work on the mural until Wednesday. My trusty intern, Allison, was there along side me, keeping me going. I asked her to paint the background for Africa, to do the drum and costume as well. This girl is amazing, and I don't know where I'd be without her. I painted most of France (I think she's my favorite, so far), India's costume, and started the American boy. He frustrated me hugely, as most American boys do, so I need to make some adjustments.
We began to name these little ones, as they have started to come to life and have little personalities. Really, it's fun to spend my day with them. I'll have to reveal the names at the end, so stay tuned!
I'm back to work again all day tomorrow, likely for another 6-8 hours or so. That's hard work to have one hand in the air all day as construction-ers are blasting all around me. I left with a killer headache, but the evening ended well with a dinner in Carlsbad with some friends from home (SLC) where we spent 2 1/2 hours laughing and cajoling about old times. That's a good long day.
We got a lot of work done today: our Chinese girl, Indian girl (Dr. Houri's favorite Iranian comedian said she wasn't casino Indian but computer Indian...is that bad?), and the French girl...that's a lot of girls! I was there for 6 hours again. I'm really resenting how long it takes to do people. But these kids are becoming my friends, so that is certainly rewarding.
One major reason there was so much progress today was because of the presence and skill of my "intern," which means cheap labor, Allison. She's my former student and is quite talented, as evidenced by the little Mexican chihuahua, the Chinese panda, and the Indian bird.
Thanks Allison for the help and the company, it's so much better when you're there!
Unfortunately, each face takes me about half an hour...I realized these are the first portraits I've done in a mural. I have a feeling these will get faster the more I do it.
As you may know, I started a new mural today at a children's dental office in Vista. The dentist is a sweet Iranian woman who was inspired to have me paint a Children Around the World mural. This was Day 1. I downloaded the new U2 album this morning and listened to it on repeat while I worked (I'm concentrating most of the time, so it takes me that long to really hear it). It's good, I liked it! Anyway, I was there for 6 hours and did mostly boring stuff: the measuring, drawing, taping, more drawing, and finally started a little painting, just so I could see some color go up. 
Also, there's another huge part of this mural, but you'll have to check back later to see how cool it is...it's a surprise!!
I've put in a bid for an illustration job on Etsy to do the images for an ASL book. Do some serious prayin' and maybe I'll get it. (This is the sign for "too/same as.")
This was the first dental office mural I did , "Four Seasons"
Sprucing up a garage, abstract wave style.
The very first large-scale mural at Tri-City church in Vista...they flew my mom out from SLC to help me. They said the first Sunday it was up a toddler walked right into it! Now that's a compliment.
Another church mural, this one at Summit Christian near Cal State San Marcos...everyone loves a beach scene, as you can see. Thankfully, this new one will have nothing to do with the beach. Stay posted and I'll update you soon.
