"Sand Toes" is the portrait that inspired us to open the Brown Brush Fine Art Studio. 

My husband  began to encouraged me to take up artwork again.  It had been years since I had painted.  Art was from my former life...my pre-mommy, skinny enough to eat anything with time to take bubble-baths and read life. 

I argued that I did use my creative side: what about all those Halloween costumes and birthday cakes I made?  Honestly, I was a bit scared that I had lost the feel for my brush and pencils.  Somehow, the overwhelming passion and demands of motherhood was more than enough to fill the need to create!  But he insisted that I was missing out.  And furthermore, that I was depriving our children of the experience of watching us develop our gifts and talents.  I had promised myself years ago that I would paint portraits of my children, and I knew he was right.  It was time...I needed this. 

So I went back to my albums and boxes of pictures, and picked out some special photographs.  

I took this one years ago on a vacation, when my daughter was 18 months old.  It was the first time that she walked on the beach.  The sand was wet from a light rain that morning, and she was fascinated with the feeling of sand on her toes.  I have always loved this picture because it captured one of those 'once in a lifetime' childhood discoveries.  Though you can't see her face, her hands and posture communicate her sense of wonder and fascination.  I love her little toes curling into the sand.  As much as I loved the photograph, it sat in a dusty box, unlooked at for years...un-enjoyed.