Koebel Kid's Birthday Paintings 2018

I'm often late with delivery of these paintings but in the case of Amira's painting I was a few days early this year. Her birthday is December 9th, when she turned seven. I just happened to have started and finished her painting first. It was at the Pinto Museum, in Manila earlier this year, where I witnessed Amira seeing her first peacock. She was mesmerized by the male strutting with his tail feather spread out in an enormous fan.

The start.  I used a commercial stencil for the half moon, the texture on the right was created through a metal ribbon with holes

The half moon shape seemed to be just floating there, so I flipped the stencil to complete a circle ...

Refined and now sporting his crown

I added three real feathers.  "Amira's Peacock" acrylic on canvas, 12" x 24"

For Everett, who turned three on September 18th, I thought an airplane was appropriate as the family were poised to move from Manila to Singapore just before Christmas.  

A dramatic sundown was the start for Everett's painting

The airplane goes on

The painting looked rather blank to me. It was Bill who suggested adding the Manila skyline ...

Everett's "Manila to Singapore" oil on canvas 12" x 24" 

Detail of the plane

November 12th, presenting the paintings to Laura

She seemed extra pleased with Everett's painting.  Great because I thought it to be the weaker of the two 

The paintings were somewhat larger this year as we didn't need to ship them. With Laura visiting for ten days in November we were able to send the paintings, plus all the birthday and Christmas gifts, home with her in her luggage.

They opened their paintings December 4th, the day before the movers took the paintings along with the sea shipment

I think she likes it!

And the little man likes his airplane

Everett and Amira with their paintings

Thanks Laura for this family photograph after they disembarked from their flight in Singapore on December 22nd.