“It’s My Birthday!” (Ellis)

by Godfrey J. Ellis – 14×18 Acrylic 2021

This is my daughter-in-law’s niece. This little girl is a firecracker! I have no idea what thought is passing through her little mind at this exact moment but, whatever it is, it is intense! Her mother is going through a painful divorce, as most divorces are, and I painted this to show my support and love for her. And the fringe benefit? It was fun to paint. The pink hat was so bright that I couldn’t mix it; I had to purchase a large jar of “florescent magenta” just for the tiny bit of paint I needed for the metallic hat. Below is the reference photo:

Here is a photo of the little imp holding the painting, which she loved. In fact, when they drove away with it, she said to her mom, “I want to keep this forever!”

Below are four photos of early versions of the painting. You can see how it gradually took shape. It was fun to do, that’s for sure, and we hope it will bring joy for years to come.