Go to the Mattresses

 This is my favorite self portrait.  It's a take on my childhood favorite the Princess and the Pea.  And it couldn't be more appropriate for this sensitive artist.  Sigh.  I used my Wedding tiara for the crown.  If it wasn't so self indulgent I'd use this for my facebook profile shot.  We all should be allowed to be princess for a day at least, right?  Then I would have to take it down I suppose.  I've posted this for www.illustrationfriday.com before.  But it fits the heights theme.  You can't be afraid of heights to sleep in that bed!  In reality I wouldn't want to sleep up there because of midnight bathroom trips.  Especially in a dark and damp old castle.  And where's the bed space for my handsome prince? 

Princess and the Me

After seeing this self portrait, it probably comes as no surprise that Halloween is my favorite holiday. I used to make elaborate costumes and celebrate in style. But I never was a princess. So I finally got to live out that fantasy or at least paint it. I joked in an earlier blog post that I wasn't sure if my pet leopard was lovingly looking up at me. Or he just might be waiting for me to jump off the bed. (So he can have me as a snack.) But either way, no fantasy is complete without some exotic pets. I saw my first wild Scarlet Macaw in Costa Rica this year. So I had to include an exotic bird in the mix. But this princess would definately let the Macaw chart her own flight path around the castle. No cages for sure. I wouldn't have to clean up the mess! I did have another less indulgant reason for painting this portrait. You can check out Mermaid Me and many other artists on http://www.childrens-illustrators.com/

Portrait Pets

These are the pets from my self portrait, Princess and the Me. An exotic (and I think funny) take on Princess and the pea. I'm not sure if my leopard is lovingly looking up at me. Or if he's just lying there waiting for me to jump off the bed. A little late night Princess snack perhaps? Look for "Princess Me" next week.