Spirit of My Sweet Girl (on Turning 16), 3-2016

My great niece, Kathryn Reilly Colburn, just turned 16.  Her grandmother sent me a photo of her in the Yosemite mountains where they celebrated her birthday. This photo torn at my heart as she seemed so grown up, so much the young woman she is growing into, and yet, there was the sled, as if she was still hanging on to a bit of her childhood.  I used my sister's photo for a reference for this painting of my sweet girl........this is what I have called her since she was little.  She will always and forever, be my sweet girl, no matter how grown up she is.  

24"x36", mixed media, hand rubbed acrylic background, acrylic and pastel.