Banana Leaf Study Painting

Hi, thanks for taking the time to read my profile. I've been painting seriously for almost twenty years. Prior to that I designed tropical jewelry that I sold and created mosaic art. I enjoy producing work that I'm passionate about, the kind of work I’d rather keep than sell, work that’s painful to part with! Lol, but, I have pulled pieces off my walls for customers who just have to have them! That’s when I know I found the right owner!!! I paint mainly with oils....I love the richness and texture; however, I often switch to watercolors which I especially enjoy finishing with pen and ink! I’ve started working in oil pastels last year! I love the unique textures and diverse look that each medium offers! I've also started creating batiks (a challenging medium) in the last few years. My inspirations vary, but one of my main themes is New Orleans life...enchanting courtyards and fountains, Pat O’Briens drinks, Louisiana cuisine, tropical landscapes, and historical architecture. I also paint seascapes; North Louisiana cotton bolls and fields; exotic hotels and pools, and portraits of Warhol and Liberace! Just whatever the mood strikes at the time! I completed a divine house portrait that was very difficult to part with when I finally finished! I picked on that painting over 6 months and loved how it turned out! On particularly challenging days, I engage in Expressionist paintings that I refer to as my “crazy art” or “art therapy,” expressing what it feels like to struggle as an artist! Thanks again, and I hope you enjoy browsing my work! Please support artists....we are definitely abnormal, but extremely happy to create, and like Van Gogh, we can always use the money! Kristi