Art by Mary Rochelle Burnham

Black Magic Woman, 16x12", oil, available on Etsy "Black Magic Woman", is from a live painting session with our lovely model, Mia. She sat the entire session (morning and afternoon) with her beautiful 'bewitching' smile. I am so happy with the light and color on this piece, it practically glows in the dark! If you are in Phoenix this Friday, come to the opening of the Portrait Artists Of Arizona show at the University Club. I have three pieces in the show. Location: The University Club of Phoenix 39 Monte Vista Road Phoenix, Arizona 85004 Opening Reception: Friday, March 11, 2016 5:30 – 7:30 PM Awards Presentation: 6:30 PM Exhibition hours: Monday – Friday 9-11 AM and 2-4 PM Click here to go to my Etsy shop.

Light of Hope , oil, 36x24" Sold I received notice that this painting and two others were accepted into the Portrait Artists of Arizona 3rd Annual Members Juried Fine Art Portrait Exhibition and Sale . There are some excellent artists in the group, including many professionals. I am honored to be included! If this painting looks familiar, my earlier blog post of "Sheer Light of Hope" is the pastel study for this piece. Ironically, it did not make it into the Arizona Pastel Artists Association  Spring 2013 Juried Show, however three other pieces did. I am very proud and honored.

Bust of Benjamin Franklin , oil, 7x5" SOLD Jean-Antoine Houdon French, 1741-1828 Tinted plaster after 1778 Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH Benjamin Franklin (1705-1790) went to Europe in 1776 to negotiate a treaty of alliance between France and the United States, and remained as the new nation's Minister to France until 1785. Through their fraternal and social activities, he became acquainted with the sculptor Houdon, who recorded in this portrait the statesman's thinning hair, sagging chin, and expression of wisdom and humor. Eight years later, on Franklin's recommendation, Houdon came to the United States to model a sculpture of George Washington.

Broken Angel , 10x8 on linen paper,  Available This little broken angel is part of a roadside memorial that brought tears to my eyes when I came upon it. It is decorated with beads and plastic flowers and the area is strewn with the rubble of decaying remembrance of things past. It seems to embody the dashed hopes and dreams of loved ones tragically lost. The original pencil study has been sold.

Woman Bathing , acrylic, 10x8" SOLD I gave all of my heavy body acrylic paints to a good friend who is making wonderful art with them. I kept only my Golden fluid acrylics that I mostly use thin and transparent like watercolor. This is for a DPW Challenge and I enjoyed doing this piece.

Sheer Light of Hope , pastel, 22x16", SOLD I am proud of the way this turned out.

Chapeau , Oil, 12x16" It feels good to work from a live model again. Yesterday, I joined the Portrait Artists of Arizona . I drove two hours to get there, but it was well worth it. We had a very lovely model and she was quite pleased with the likeness. I experimented with painting loosely and getting a heavier application of paint. As a follow up to  Fallen Firefighter , my January 5th blog, here is a photo from the Pensacola News Journal  (click to read the full story): Tony Giberson/tgiberson@pnj.com Velma Jones, center, the mother of Maurice Bartholemew, gets a better look at her son's portrait during the dedication of the new downtown library Friday morning while her grandchildren, Maurice's kids, Caleb, left, and Tiffany Bartholemew look on. A special wing of the library is dedicated in memory of Maurice Bartholemew.

Getting to Know You , Oil, 6x6", available Getting to know you,  Getting to feel free and easy When I am with you,  Getting to know what to say  Haven't you noticed Suddenly I'm bright and breezy?  Because of all the beautiful and new  Things I'm learning about you  Day by day. " Getting To Know You " Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein

A New World Opens , oil on wood panel, 25 x 27" available A new world opens for this toddler as he discovers the joys of reading. A new world opens for my husband and myself as we depart for Sedona, Arizona this Friday. Having lived in Michigan all of our lives, it will be the biggest move, yet and the most exciting! "Where one door closes, another opens".

There Is Love , Acrylic, 8x10" SOLD John 3:16 King James Version For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. "For whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name There is Love, there is Love." Paul Stookey