zarah hernaez's Page

These are some of my kids. They aren’t actually mine because I only have my Bea, but in my heart, I know every crease and smile and feel all the hope, love, naughtiness and potential in all of them. I have painted 50 children’s artworks since October 2008. Painting them has helped me cope with healing a broken self and has helped me truly embrace the role of a mother.

A lot of people have asked me why I don’t do adults. I have done one or two, it’s just that I do not get as inspired. As a single mom, all my inspiration, my muse is my daughter. There is nothing like seeing the face of a toddler light up or grimace or even cry. It just speaks to your heart. I tried to do one or two sit downs with the models but then we all know that kids can never sit still. So I take pictures or have those who have requested send me at least 10 photographs I can choose from. I choose what captures my heart. Children are amazing. Their faces morph. There faces is a mix of what they will be but not yet who they are. This I try to capture and it can never be a carbon copy. It is an artwork and not a portrait. I really should have taken a picture of every one before I gave them to those who requested for them. I keep on forgetting. I get so excited and wrap them up right away and I forget but just like real kids, it’s hard to let these artworks go even if I know they go to people who love them. I often ask the person who requested how the child reacted when they saw themselves or if they recognized themselves. When the child is happy, I am happy.

The artworks are either in acrylic or watercolor. A lot prefer the acrylic because of the textures and can be on a ready to hang canvas and the water colors because it's on paper and they choose the framing. I like both. I'm allergic to oil..gives me rhinitis.

One of the most wonderful things about doing these artworks is meeting the “requestors”. They are the mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, grandmothers.. sometimes they go to their own homes, sometimes as a gift at another home. Bottomline, they are requested and are received by people who love these children so much. Their stories about the children’s adventures and the adorable things these children do are part of what makes doing these artworks special. I learn from them. I learned to be a better mother.

These kids saved my life and painting children will forever change me. I paint them when my daughter isn’t with me on weekends or holidays like Christmas. Painting them reminds me of her. Though, it may seem commercial I don’t consider it so. I don’t actually charge much and really do it because I love it. Each one is unique and I match it to the child’s personality based from the stories I hear about them. If they have a similar theme,they are probably siblings or the mother requested a theme. My favorite was this 3’ x 4’, I had to ship to the US. Right now, I’m doing 4 for Canada (and I will take a picture..I have learned). I have kids around the world. Isn’t that nice?

I do have other artworks. Works from my heart and works about my journey in life. Maybe one day, I can have an exhibit (pray for me). I’m still building up my portfolio. I’ll be ready by the end of the year. I love painting. I wish I could do it everyday.

*paintings do not picture well.=(