The Mystery Thrift Off sponsored by BetterAfter.net

I'm so excited to have been chosen to participate in betterafter.net 's Mystery Thrift Off!
  I went out to my front porch on Saturday and found this box. Inside was this crazy hand made ceramic head!  I am supposed to alter/reinvent/repurpose this object from the Goodwill into something new. Oh man!!! But after a day and a half thinking about it (I'm still open to suggestions too) I'm looking forward to the challenge.
  I will be posting the progress here and on my Instagram account @kelleysmithart with the hashtag #themysterythiftoff . Check out Lindsey's blog Better After to see mine and other participant's progress with their items. Fun!

Portraits inspired by the artist Margaret Keane by Kelley Smith

I have been working on a "big eye" series inspired by Margaret Keane. Here is the start of my granddaughter Remi.

Here is the semi finished painting of my granddaughter Pepper. She is going to be holding a cupcake and giving it to the viewer to represent Good Works. I still have a bit more to do. These portraits are more "flat" than my usual portrait painting, but that is the charm of Margaret Keane's paintings.

and this portrait is of our granddaughter Goldie. She did not make it through labor, but she is in our family's hearts and minds every day. She has given us a renewed desire to strive to live so that we may all return again as an eternal family together in our Heavenly Father's presence. I am going to gold leaf her halo and the banner she is holding.
I'm so happy to be able to be painting again and I am thankful for this opportunity to share.