Every year I participate in a local art sale that benefits a private girls school.  I have had to think hard for ways to make my art work for me in this tough economy.  Many people buy art because it has a special emmotional attachment. Whether it is a painting of their childhood home, their favorite vista or their most precious children, the buyer is attracted to what is near and dear to the heart. I have been doing sketches of these teens for years, but this year I got wise.  The school sent out a blast e-mail for me asking the parents if they would want an informal sketch of their children in the beautiful school setting.  I met them at the school,  took photos and found I actually enjoyed working from photo.  I tried to capture their natural gestures whether just chatting or braiding their hair. Some showed up with friends and I painted a few figures in one painting.   The parents set them aside and  will give the paintings to graduating seniors.   Every commission sold, I love adding something special to people's lives!  If you want to capture a fleeting moment in your child's life , send me a photo and I will give it a go!www.dorispector.com  dcspector@aol.com

This painting was started last year on Inauguration Day.  I rarely sit down to relax during the day, but this was a must, I was excited to see Mr. Obama sworn in and all the pomp and circumstance, what Michelle and the girls would be wearing, and all the lumineries.  It had snowed many days previous , and the creek less than a mile from my house had frozen partially .  I live in a magnificent corner of the world with creeks running under beautiful stone bridges, and lots of farmland with cows grazing.  My plan was to watch Mr. Obama become the next president with a lovely cup of hot tea in hand, and then bundle up to try and paint "plein air", or on site.   It was very cold, and the paint became stiff, but I managed to quickly get down what I wanted in a short  time, maybe an hour. I was pumped, as the inauguration was so moving.   The glorious speech made by Mr. Obama, and a landmark day in history seeing the first black man as president made me feel good about the future.    I finished the painting just recently a year later going out onsite a few more times. It was a very exciting day.  for more scenes winter or  otherwise go to www.dorispector.com

I started this painting about a week ago.  It went very smoothly except for the last piece of chocolate.  It needed another heart, a white Godiva.   I tried other drugstore variety ones covered in foil, or the kind that say "Be Mine", but nothing worked.  Since Godiva only gives you one heart in a small gift sampler, which I have painted here, a milk chocolate, I had to travel to a Godiva specialty store in Philadelphia to purchase a white one.    Snow and all I squeezed my way into a free parking spot which are like gold in Philadelphia.  My front end was kind of sticking out on a busy street but, I was just going to be 10 minutes.  Am I crazy or what?  All for a painting.  But with my small gold Godiva bag in my hand, and a tiny box for Paul,(my husband), I felt like I had won the gold!  After an exhausting day of fighting the cold, the snow and the traffic, I went home to my warm studio and finished my painting with heart!