Boy and birthday cake
 

I thought I would take a break from the weird and the over-emotional and do a straight portrait of my son with his birthday cake. Perhaps I'll finally get round to making the children's books for him I've been meaning to do since he was very small.

It's watercolour, and about 10(w) x 8 inches.

That is really gorgeous I love its loose unfinished quality
Very sensitive, shows the other side of little boys!

Thank-you Margaret. I suppose it is a mother's habit to see the angelic side of her (almost always) rambunctious child.

Children such lovely subjects but at times they can be a handful and in more ways than one. Many artists use children in their art to make a living but it is rare that an artist can honestly represent a child in simplicity. Your work here reminds me of Cassatt and her quest to paint a child in the hands of a mother. Well done.

So beautiful. I love it. Really captures the precious light on your child.

Lovely, Thomasin.
You caught the sparkling eyes of this special moment. I like how you suggested the candles and their light.

Thank-you Mischa, Lisa and Marina. Your comments are really appreciated.

Very nice and spontaneous, Thomasin. I also like the way the warmth of the candle light can be seen in your son

Thomasin,

I love the suspense and impending action. His intent, mesmirized expresion and the light shining on his face, even the set of his mouth, tells us that he is poised to blow out the candles. A beautiful, sensitive, accurate capturing of this moment that everyone recognizes either in their own memory or in their experience with children. Wow, I'm impressed!

This is lovely, Thomasin - sensitively rendered and you've really caught the glow (from the cake and from him as well).

Thomasin,

In a nutshell, you really captured the essence of the moment! This distillation is not an easy feat, and your intelligence as a symbolist shines here. There is an unifying sun to satelite relationship in the brilliantly concise psychological composition of the enveloping warmth. And as Alex points out, the impending action is so well conveyed. The edgy fluidity of the watercolor is perfect too. Bravo!

Garth

Oh Garth, how lovely! At the risk of sounding obsequious, I'd like to say your words outshine my little painting. Thank-you so much.

On another note, I tried to paint another child, not my own, and couldn't get it right at all. It was very much a case of going through the motions. When it comes to William, or painting anyone or any theme I love dearly, there is such a strong sense of knowing what I want to achieve and how to do it.

Thank-you Carlos. I find watercolours easier than I expected and they are actually more forgiving than is said about them. You can remove areas and rework things and the more you rework the richer the colour becomes and the more spontaneous the brushwork seems.

Alex, thank-you very much for your lovely comments. It seems when I am not trying hard to make an effect or be "great" or try to get better than I was before in a linear way I end up with something that really works.

Linda, thank-you very much for your kind comments. The glow is from my own motherly feelings as well. Why eschew sentimentality or sweet emotion? It's a valid human feeling and if it's there it's there and it shouldn't be denied. (This is me telling myself this, standing up against all the advice I have been given in the past to stay away from such "chocolate-boxy" ideas).

Your stuff is not weird and over emotional.

You handle watercolors beautifully.

Yes he is angelic looking, unlike those screaming tots at the checkout lane in the supermarket.

Thank-you Sharon. I handle watercolours beautifully on occasion. After making a great many clumsy, ham-fisted attempts, luck, pitying me, comes to my rescue and puts my brush marks where they should be put.

I love your watercolor as well as your other paintings, Thomasin. This one is great - one can almost feel the heat from the candle, and he has that mesmerized look people get looking into a flame. But the action is just below the surface - you just know this little guy is about to burst forth - possibly to blow out the candle?

Thanks very much, Julie, for your generous comments.

You got it!
 

Captured that moment in time. It is lovely how you captured the lighted candles on his face, and his openess and eagerness. It is so sweet and tender. Let me know when the book is published, I want one for my grandchildren!!

Thank-you Joyce. I appreciate your kind comments. I will let you know when the book is finished (it may take some time as I am very slow at these things). Thanks for your encouragement - you spurred me on to do some more for it.