anatomy of a painting: anna jae’s 4th birthday

if you follow me, you know that as a birthday gift every year, i do a painting for anna jae. it’s a portrait of her, and what is important for her at that age. of course, each year it gets more involved and complicated, but also even more fun.

this year, i decided to picture anna jae in her new room at our new apartment. ok, it’s not just her room — her new brother will be moving in there soon — but of course, it’s MOSTLY her room right now. she decided on the main color (red), helped pick out most of the room decor, and now spends the majority of her time at home in there. so it was only fitting that she be pictured in her sanctuary.

like most girls her age, she’s appropriately obsessed with princesses (and no, i’m definitely NOT a princess girl myself, but that’s ok). but being anna jae, she’s also often a complete mess, with unruly hair and clothes that have been obviously jumped around in. you will always see a princess dress on her on top of her regular clothes. always.

ivy doggie, her much loved buddy, makes it into his 3rd painting out of 4. this year he is appropriately pictured in the background — she doesn’t carry him everywhere with her anymore, but he’s still very much a part of her life, and definitely in bed with her every night. she had also begged for a new doll all year — emily — which santa granted her. emily has her own bed from ikea, just like anna jae’s furnishings are from ikea.

the red and white polka dot rug sits in the middle of the big bedroom, and delineates the play area, so it’s important in the space. anna jae’s curtains, bedspread, and bed were chosen on trips to her fave store — with a little help from mommy.

i love this new way of doing portraits, full of signifiers for the person’s life and personality. the glass of soda and jewelry in my dad’s portrait, the blue jacket in my grandpa’s, and the chair and pink shirt for aunt pearl. anna’s started to become more involved every year she gets older, and it’s a lot of fun deciding what should be her surroundings. i’m looking forward to each more complicated year coming.