Des Moines Botanical Garden

This is one of my favorites! It’s a beautiful memory I have of going to the Des Moines Botanical Garden when I was little. We didn’t go very many places, so this was a real treat.

The big glass dome filled with incredible plants and flowers was like a wonderland. I think part of my desire to travel the world came from reading the descriptions of the plants here and wanting to go see them in the wild.

About the series:

My new artwork series is a meditation on my childhood growing up off-the-grid in rural Iowa. My goal is to write a children’s book using this series of 20 paintings as the illustration for the book. Thank you to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation – BeWildReWild – Community Artist Grant for your generous support of my project.

https://bewildrewild.org/artwork-paintings-childrens-book

Blessings,

Emily Lupita

Http://EmilyLupitaStudio.com

Sledding on the Hill – Childhood Book

This painting makes me smile. We had some good times sledding out there on the hill in the depths of winter. I wanted to show how completely empty and stark the landscape could look in winter. Yet there we were out in the middle of the emptiness having a fantastic time. Our dogs were experts at sledding and I think it was the highlight of their year to go sliding down the hill with us. The wind in their ears and excitement on everyone’s faces as we went down is something I’ll never forget.

About the series:

My new artwork series is a meditation on my childhood growing up off-the-grid in rural Iowa. My goal is to write a children’s book using this series of 20 paintings as the illustration for the book. Thank you to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation – BeWildReWild – Community Artist Grant for your generous support of my project.

https://bewildrewild.org/artwork-paintings-childrens-book

Blessings,

Emily Lupita

Http://EmilyLupitaStudio.com

Newest Painting -Barn Clouds

There’s nothing like a gorgeous cloudy day in the countryside. When we were little, my brothers and I would climb up into the loft of the hay barn. And then we’d scoot along the edge of the loft and pull each other up onto the roof of the barn. Then we’d relax up there and watch the clouds go by. We’d call out shapes we’d see in the clouds and make up names for interesting clouds that went by. Of course, our loyal dogs would wait for us at the base of the barn.

Of course now that I have little kids of my own, I shutter at the thought of them doing something like this. I remember Mom running up and yelling at us to get down if she caught us up there. But it’s such a beautiful memory for me. Some time in the sky with my brothers.

(This is the drawing after the initial sketching. Painting coming soon.)

About the series:

My new artwork series is a meditation on my childhood growing up off-the-grid in rural Iowa. My goal is to write a children’s book using this series of 20 paintings as the illustration for the book. Thank you to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation – BeWildReWild – Community Artist Grant for your generous support of my project.

https://bewildrewild.org/artwork-paintings-childrens-book

Blessings,

Emily Lupita

Http://EmilyLupitaStudio.com

 

Growing Wild Plums – Painting 3

Painting #3:

A scene from our living room out on the hill. Always a loyal good dog nearby. Art and color everywhere. My mother’s paintings 🖼 on the walls. She won many art prizes over the years. Her iris paintings even won best in show. I would sit and try to make art like she did, but my paintings looked different. I’ve always had my own style and I’m lucky to have an artist mom who encouraged me to paint in my own way. This painting is the closest thing to how I remember that room in my childhood home. This is how I see the world.

About the series:

My new artwork series is a meditation on my childhood growing up off-the-grid in rural Iowa. My goal is to write a children’s book using this series of 20 paintings as the illustration for the book. Thank you to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation – BeWildReWild – Community Artist Grant for your generous support of my project.

https://bewildrewild.org/artwork-paintings-childrens-book

Blessings,

Emily Lupita

Http://EmilyLupitaStudio.com

Third Painting In-Progress: “Painting at the Table”

My series continues with the third painting now in-progress. It started as a sketch from my memory of using my mom’s art supplies to paint at our big table in the dining room.

Then I made several new sketches and came up with the final dimensions.

Here I’m adding in my Lupita character at the table and adding in color. These are all sketches I use as guides to then make the final painting.

About the series:

My new artwork series is a meditation on my childhood growing up off-the-grid in rural Iowa. My goal is to write a children’s book using this series of 20 paintings as the illustration for the book. Thank you to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation – BeWildReWild – Community Artist Grant for your generous support of my project.

https://bewildrewild.org/artwork-paintings-childrens-book

Blessings,

Emily Lupita

Http://EmilyLupitaStudio.com

Second Painting Finished

I’m so happy to have finished the second painting in my new Iowa Childhood series. Here I am with my brothers and our dogs and cat in the hammock under our twin pear trees. 🍐 🌳 🌳 🍐

About the series:

My new artwork series is a meditation on my childhood growing up off-the-grid in rural Iowa. My goal is to write a children’s book using this series of 20 paintings as the illustration for the book. Thank you to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation – BeWildReWild – Community Artist Grant for your generous support of my project.

https://bewildrewild.org/artwork-paintings-childrens-book

Blessings,

Emily Lupita

Http://EmilyLupitaStudio.com

Pear Tree Sketch – 2 of 20 Wild Plums Art Series

When I was a child, we lived on this beautiful hill in rural Iowa. There were two gorgeous pear trees next to the garden overlooking the countryside beyond.

Mom put up a hammock from Mexico. My brothers and I would play and read and take naps out there under the twin pear trees. Our dogs and cats would join us.

Here are a few pictures and a (new!) video of my “Pear Tree” painting still in progress.

My new artwork series is a meditation on my childhood growing up off-the-grid in rural Iowa. My goal is to write a children’s book using this series of 20 paintings as the illustration for the book. Thank you to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation – BeWildReWild – Community Artist Grant for your generous support of my project.

https://bewildrewild.org/artwork-paintings-childrens-book

Blessings,

Emily Lupita

Http://EmilyLupitaStudio.com