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Watercolors
Portraits
I love to paint just about anything, but when it comes to the human face, it really does appear there is "divinity" in human eyes: the windows to the soul, created in the image of God. I'd rather paint a human face than anything else. I find so much beauty in the unique personalities I encounter, and the people I love. Each expression is priceless.
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What you see on this page is a collection of my watercolor portraits from the past decade, since I traded in my oil paints for a watercolor palette in 2009. These really are the faces I love -- representing many family members and friends (which is the reason most of these are not for sale). However, I know an excellent local printer of fine-art-quality giclee's, and a print can be made from any image here. All you have to do is ask how to order one!
It's my hope that you will enjoy these as much as I enjoyed painting them.
 AbelThis darling little boy is the son of some dear church friends, who married in October, so this was their wedding gift -- their son Abel. I finished it a month late, but they do love it! (14"x10" on Arches 140#) -- NFS -- - Owned by Luis & Monica Mata |  A Copy of an "AI" portraitThis was the final portrait for my 2024 Fall Watercolor Portrait class at the NM Art League. I had asked my students to paint "a copy of a master portrait artist," found this image online, and loved it -- only to discover it had been painted by: AI! (14"x10" on Arches 140#) -- NFS -- |  Kee: Navajo CowboyThis is a portrait of one of the nicest men ever, who agreed to allowing me to paint his regal, noble face, after I encountered him in the produce section of WalMart. (It's actually quite a story!) I painted this as a demo in the portrait class I was teaching, and it's a 15"x11" on Arches 300#. -- NFS, yet -- • Accepted into the 2025 Western Federation of Watercolor Societies exhibit, Lubbock, TX |
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 Parker At The AquariumParker is my "great-nephew" the sweet son of my "nephew" Chad. I simply love his sweet, innocent face, and the wonder he was obviously feeling in that huge aquarium, surrounded by water and fish. I HAD to paint him! -- NFS -- (To be entered into MasterWorks, 2025) |  Ken Curtis as "Festus"This was a "Famous Person" demo for my portrait class at the NM Art League in the Fall of 2024. I have always loved Ken Curtis and his goofy faces, and I got to meet him and shake his hand when I was ten years old, at a rodeo in my hometown of Fresno, CA. -- NFS -- |  Little Miss SunshineA portrait of my sweet granddaughter, Cambria - who turned nine a month after I painted this. She is such a joyous, sweet, funny, energetic child, and I adore her! (To be entered into a few exhibits in the Fall of 2024.) NFS -- yet |
 Hearts Full Of LoveBack in my early College days (late 1970's) I created a graphite-pencil drawing of this, from a 1959 photo of my two older siblings, sharing a sweet moment. I've always wanted to paint this in watercolor, so I did that for a special birthday my older sister was celebrating. I think she loves it! (Side-note: our brother Joe died 20 years ago this coming Fall, so I loved painting him. I know he'd love it too!) Oct. 28, 2023 14" x 10" on Arches 140# -- Owned by my sister, Mary Hepting -- |  "Maccabee's Dinosaur Dream"In the stye of "fantasy art," a portrait of my 5-year old grandson Maccabee, who loves Dinosaurs (particularly the T-Rex) more than anything. I hope he becomes an important Paleontologist one day! (I painted this July of 2023, after totally messing up a 'similar' portrait, used as a demo piece for my June "Realistic Figure-Painting" Workshop. I was glad to be able to redeem my original idea -- just wish I could have done that in class! Aug. 4, 2023 14" x 10" on Arches 300# -- NFS -- |  The Eyes of EthneA portrait of my granddaughter Ethne, at age 11 (though she looks much older here!) I painted this on the heels of the DaVinci copy, so I wanted to duplicate some of the same light and shadow. Included in the NMWS 2023 Spring exhibit, and the '23 NM State Fair. March 18, 2023 20" x 16" on Arches 300# -- $1,500 -- |
 "DaVinci's 'Angel Uriel' "Painted as another demo for my portrait class at the NMAL. This is DaVinci's "Angel Uriel" from his larger "Virgin on the Rocks." I believe this is the most beautiful face DaVinci painted. I used an interesting triad for this: Quin. Gold, Burnt Sienna, and Dioxazine Purple. March 6, 2023 15" x 11" on Arches 300# -- NFS -- |  "Russell Crowe" Class-DemoA portrait demo for my class at the NM Art League, to show students how to create a grisaille-layer using, in this case, Manganese Blue, as the blue sky overhead influences shadows and highlights. I had fun with this, but will never put it into a show or sell it as the image is copyrighted by an unknown (at this point) photographer. I will give credit as soon as I find out who! I love Russell Crowe -- my Dad resembles him quite a bit! Feb. 25, 2023 10.5"x8.5" -- $425 -- |  "Selah At The Grand Canyon"This is a portrait of my 12-year old niece Selah, done as a demo for my class, from a photo of her with her family at the Grand Canyon. She is such a sweet girl, very shy, VERY smart and incredibly artistic. I predict great things for Selah's future, and we love her very much! Feb. 23, 2023 14" x 10" on Arches 140# -- NFS -- (A gift to her parents.) |
 "Apotheosis of Angst"This portrait of my beautiful 15-yr.-old granddaughter, Thea received the Third Place ribbon in the 2023 MasterWorks of NM "25th Anniversary" exhibit. It was also selected to be included in the San Diego Watercolor Society International Exhibit, in San Diego, CA, October, 2023. Displayed in the NM State Fair, 2024. Jan. 28, 2023 15" x 11" on Arches 300# -- NFS -- |  "Faith, Hope, Love"A portrait of my goofy (now-former) daughter-in-law, Tesa. Jan. 10, 2023 13.5" x 9.5" on Arches 140# |  "Noriah's Pumpkin"A portrait of my "Great-Niece" at her October Birthday party. (Age 3) Jan. 27, 2022 15"x11" on Arches 300# • MasterWorks NM 2022, 3rd Place. • 2022 NM State Fair -- Owned by Kent & Melanie Cravens -- [Ranked #7 out of 100 in the Fall Quarter Edition of "The Art of Watercolour" magazine out of Paris.] |
 "In Honor of Bouguereau's Petite Fille"In my Winter '22 Portrait Class (which I taught at the NM Art League), I had my students copy a Master Portrait Artist's work. This was my demo piece as I am a huge, life-long fan of William Bouguereau. Feb. 18, 2022 14"x10" on Arches 140# -- $695 -- |  Gen-Z Beatle's Fan_AltI finally finished this portrait "to my satisfaction," 15 months after letting it sit "undone." It was finally completed in Aug. of 2021. This is my oldest granddaughter, Sariah, who was about 14 years old in the photo reference. (I think my grandkids are so beautiful!) Aug. 25, 2021 15" x 13" on Arches 300# -- NFS -- |  "Bethany's Childhood Dream"This is an "Imagined" portrait of my sweet younger sister, Bethany who wanted only ONE THING in childhood: to play the flute. She is a Master Flute Player, and this was given to her for her 60th birthday in 2021. Nov. 15, 2021 9.5" x 13.5" on Arches 140# -- NFS -- |
 "Abuelito"A portrait of my daughter-in-law's sweet, quiet, gentle, wise Grandpa. Aug. 30, 2020 22.5" x 15" on Arches 300# • NMWS Fall 2020, 3rd Place • NM State Fair 2021, 1st Place -- Owned by Teresa Romero -- |  "Our Friend Frank"A portrait of our neighbor and dear friend, Frank (who now owns this painting). Aug. 3, 2018 22.5" x 15" on Arches 300# • NMWS Fall Show, 2018 - First Place • NM State Fair, 2018 - Honorable Mention -- Owned by Frank Gordon -- |  "Dia de los Muertos"This is a portrait of my beautiful daughter Rachel. I created this watercolor after painting her face in the style of "Dia de los Muertos" in the Fall of 2014. She owns this piece and displays it in her front room. Oct. 30, 2014 21" x 15" on Arches 300# -- Owned by Rachel Vreeland-Gard -- |
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 "A Nod to Men of the West"My wonderful husband Mark (of 41 years) ... this portrait portrays him as the western pioneer of his ancestry ... men who paved the way west. (My photo reference of him was taken the day of 61st birthday.) (22.5" x 15") • "Finalist" placement for Jack Richeson's "Figure-Portrait-75," Sept. 2020. -- NFS -- |  "The Ant"I had taken a lovely photo of two of my sweet grandchildren in the park, appearing to study an ant. So of course, I had to paint this one! (22.5" x 15") • Jack Richeson 75-International Portrait Competition, 2020 (Meritorious Category) • International Watercolor Society -- THIRD PLACE (exhibited in Mexico City for 6 months, 2022) -- NFS -- |  "Brad's Glory Days"A portrait of my son-in-law, from a photo I took of him when he still had gorgeous long red hair! He really is a "cool guy" too! (15" x 11") • NMWS Fall Exhibition, 2019, Second Place -- NFS -- |
 "Dad's Winning Hand"My sweet, adorable 87-year old Dad, playing a game of Hand & Foot with my Mom and I at their home in Missouri. He never has a "poker-face" which we think is hilarious! (15" x 15") • NMWS Fall Exhibit, 2021 - "M. Graham" product award -- NFS -- [Ranked #5 out of 100 in the Fall Quarter Edition of "The Art of Watercolour" magazine out of Paris!] |  "St. Thomas Fisherman, I"While snorkeling near Coki Beach, St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, I came out of the water and saw this scene ... and knew it had to become a painting! He was so beautiful to me! (22" x 13") • NMWS Fall Exhibit, 2013 - "People's Choice" Award -- $1,200. |  "St. Thomas Fisherman, II"This is how much I loved that fisherman ... I painted him twice, from a different angle. (14" x 20") • NM State Fair, 2014 - First Place -- $1,200. |
 "The Rabbi"A visual description of Luke 4, where Jesus reads from the scroll of Isaiah 53, and proclaims himself the Messiah -- a beautiful piece of scripture, where God's promise is fulfilled. (A gift to my brother-in-law, David.) (11" x 8.5") -- NFS -- |  "Tiny Dancer"A portrait I was able to paint for NM's "Paint The Ballet" in 2014. (This little ballerina's mother bought the painting immediately!) (20" x 15") • NMWS Fall Exhibit, 2014 - "People's Choice" award -- NFS -- |  "Zoe"My adorable little granddaughter #5, Zoe, when she was just 18 months old. (A gift to my son and his wife.) (17" x 15") -- NFS -- |
 "Eli"Our littlest grandchild, Eli, whose big brown eyes "melt me" every time I see them! (This was a demo for a portrait class I taught, and I used my daughter Rachel Gard's photo.) (11" x 8.5") -- NFS -- |  "Portrait of Hannah"One of my earliest watercolor portraits, painted in 2011. This is a portrait of my great-niece. It was given to her mother, my niece Shanda. (11.5" x 8.5") -- NFS -- |  The Heart Of A ChildOur precious grandson Maccabee really does have an incredibly sweet heart, and he displayed that in my photo reference. (This was a demo for a portrait class I taught in 2021, but I didn't put the finishing touches on this -- quite a few! -- until May of 2024!) (15" x 11") -- NFS -- |
 "Windows To Her Soul"My beautiful granddaughter Ethne, on a sleepy EARLY morning during Balloon Fiesta, 2018. (14" x 11") • MasterWorks NM, 2019 - 2nd Place -- NFS -- |  "Queen of the Waves"My granddaughter Ethne, our "Disney Princess." My photo reference was taken at Yellowstone Lake, where she had the most amazing fun, dipping her toes in the water. (15" x 11") • NMWS Fall Exhibit, 2017 - "People's Choice" Award -- $799. -- |  "Skyler's Smile"Skyler is my great-nephew and I painted this for his parent's 10th anniversary in 2018. (Now I need to paint his two adorable younger siblings!) (11.5" x 15") -- NFS -- |
 "Sunburnt Freckles"A portrait of my sweet granddaughter Thea, from a photo of her at the age of about 5. She was so sorrowful that day, but I LOVED her eyes in the photo, and had to paint this one! (15" x 11.5") • MasterWorks NM, 2018 - "People's Choice" Award -- NFS -- |  "Good Morning, Sunshine!"Granddaughter #4 with her cup of hot-cocoa, on a very early Balloon Fiesta morning ... with sleep still in her eyes. (Cambria was 3 years old in my photo reference.) (14" x 11") • NM State Fair, 2019 - First Place |  "Splendor of Eanika"My beautiful friend Eanika (beautiful inside and out) was sitting across the church from me one Sunday morning and I looked over at her and decided I HAD to paint her! (This painting ended up being a birthday gift to her.) (15" x 22") -- NFS -- |
 "Getting It Off Her Chest"My first painting in honor of "Breast-Cancer," which I survived in 2010 at the age of 50. My beautiful "niece" Brittney posed as a model for this one, and there is MUCH symbolism involved in this painting. It hangs in my bedroom, and I wake up every morning thanking God for another day of life! (30" x 16") • Western Federation of Watercolor Societies placement, 2013 -- NFS -- |  "Hope Chest"This is a rather surreal "impression of a self-portrait." My 2nd painting representing breast cancer, 3 years after my double-mastectomy due to breast cancer. (I am now am 11-year survivor ... thank God!!) (20" x 16") -- NFS -- |  "Contemplating Minimalism"While visiting a very modern art gallery with my daughter and son-in-law (Brad), we thought it humorous to pose him (in his cowboy hat) contemplating the "what" and "why" of these very expensive, modern paintings. I loved working on this piece ... it made me laugh. (15" x 22") • NM State Fair, 2015 - First Place -- NFS -- |
 "Rachel at Five"A small portrait I created of my daughter, for her 37th birthday in 2019. Just because ... I thought she was so adorable! (11.5" x 8.5") -- NFS -- |  "My Son and Me, 1986"I painted this one, just for fun, for my son Scott's 33rd birthday, from an old photo of the two of us when he was two. LOVE those memories of being a young Mom! (12" x 9") -- NFS -- |  "Conquering the Mountain"A portrait of my son Scott, who loves to snowboard, and is quite good at it! (22" x 11") • NMWS Spring Exhibit, 2013 - Honorable Mention -- NFS -- |
 "My Beautiful Daughter"I had seen a great demo from Ted Nuttal, who judged one of our NMWS exhibits, and decided to try it out. I loved creating this one as it was much looser than I was used to painting. (20" x 16") - 2013 • NMWS Spring Exhibit, 2014 -- the first ever "Mabel Culpepper" Award -- NFS -- |  "Mikaela"Our friends Phil & Mona have such beautiful children, and I couldn't resist painting their youngest daughter, Mikaela! This became a gift to them. (11.5" x 8.5") • MasterWorks NM, 2014 - "NMWS Excellence In Watermedia" award • NM State Fair, 2014 - Honorable Mention -- NFS -- |  "Great-Grandpa's Light"I was enchanted by the scene of my Dad and my little granddaughter Thea, inspecting a "sick teddy bear." (My Dad has macular degeneration, and uses lit-magnifiers for everything.) What a precious scene of the two of them! (16" x 22") • NMWS Fall Exhibit, 2011 -- 3rd Place -- NFS -- |
 "Touch of the Master's Hand"One of my earliest watercolor portraits, of my wonderful, VERY MUSICAL Dad, who is one of my life's heroes. I was still learning a lot about watercolor at this time, but starting to get there! (He owns this one.) (22" x 16") -- NFS -- |  "Prodigy"A portrait of my nephew Kyle, when he was about 11. And he really WAS a prodigy on the guitar ... he is exceptional! (20" x 17") • My very first accepted painting to the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies Exhibit, 2011 -- NFS -- |  "Grandpa Vreeland, 1980" (Oils)OK ... no, this is not a watercolor. I painted this in oils in 1980 at the age of 20. I dearly loved my husband's Grandpa Vreeland, and had adopted him as my own when I got married that year. (My oil-portraits are VERY rare, but it's where I got my start.) (20" x 16') Oil -- NFS -- |
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