Magda Enslin Portraits, Murals and Art

Christmas Letter

2010-12-17T08:23:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas and all our best wishes to you for 2011!

We are blessed with so much and are grateful for everything we have and can do. This is my first year that I will not send out regular Christmas cards, but I hope that you will still know that we miss, appreciate and love our family and friends very much.

Christofel is now 11 and Jacques and Stefan turned 8 years old. Christofel graduated from 5th grade and started middle school in August. All of them are doing so good in school and make us very proud. The three of them played flag football in the spring and Chris started tackle football in the fall. The twins are now trying tennis, but I hear tackle football or even ice hockey is next! Will have to wait and see! They take private music lessons (piano and electric guitar and Chris plays trombone at school) and are also in several bands. Our schedule stays busy but these are all wonderful experiences and worth every moment.

Chris and I are doing well. This year we had our 11th year anniversary in Texas. I am teaching my water aerobics classes, several times a week and started taking Spanish classes, twice a week. I love the fact that I can learn a new language. The kids find it strange that Mom is now doing homework at night! I completed a few commissioned art pieces this year and worked on illustrations for a book, but did not paint as much as I was hoping for...so you know what one of my New Year's resolutions will be!

This year we did several races together as a family and it is definitely something we will continue. All the kids enjoy running and around Austin area we have numerous races to pick from. Chris and I even ran the Austin half marathon (13.1 miles) together on Valentine's Day. Isn't that a good way to start your Valentine's Day?

We hope you are all doing well and please stay in touch. Enjoy the holidays and be safe.

With all our love
The Enslins

Illustrations in 'Because your online presence matters'

2010-12-13T10:43:00.000-08:00

Here I am with Ronel Uys, author and friend of the book 'Because Your Online Presence Matters'. We were so excited because these were the first, hard and soft cover books, that were printed. It will be available in book stores, Barnes and Nobles and Amazon.com within a few weeks. I did the illustrations. Congratulations Ronel!

Moshi, oil 8 x 10"

2010-09-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

Play room mural

2010-09-23T11:56:00.000-07:00

This was a fun project!

Ouma, oil 9 x 11"

2010-09-23T11:52:00.000-07:00

I painted this portrait using a photo I took I few years ago of my grandma (95), sitting in her favorite spot, reading a book.

Dog portraits

2009-10-06T17:41:00.000-07:00

Boris

Luna

Sugar

Whimsical flower mural

2009-10-06T17:34:00.000-07:00

Cat 11X14 oil

2009-08-27T16:13:00.001-07:00

"China Berry" is just beautiful with those big blue eyes and milk mustache.

11 X 14 oil

SOLD

Jacques - 6x8 oil

2009-08-27T16:09:00.001-07:00

Church paintings - more details

2009-06-18T09:27:00.000-07:00

Sunday # 1 - "I am the bread of the life"

Sunday # 2 - "I am the light of the world"

Sunday # 3 - "I am the gate"

Sunday # 4 - "I am the vine"

"I AM" church painting

2009-06-18T09:10:00.000-07:00

finished painting #1

During the months of March and April, in our Sunday worship services, I painted this series of pictures, depicting what the sermon was about. We studied 7 'I AM' statements in John. I had about 10-15 minutes to paint each section. Our church has two services, so I have two sets that we will frame and use in the church building! It was a wonderful experience. A little strange in the beginning to paint in front of a large group of people, but well worth it.

Max

2009-06-03T04:58:00.000-07:00

6x8 - oil

Ingrid and Ivan

2009-06-01T16:25:00.000-07:00

11 x 14 - oil

Another fun commission!

Little old lady

2009-06-01T16:23:00.001-07:00

9 x 12 oil

Lucy and Gray

2009-06-01T16:13:00.000-07:00

Lucy

Gray

I was commissioned to paint these two beautiful dogs. They are just as adorable in real life!

'Pouting'

2008-10-01T16:10:00.000-07:00

Pastel (13" x 16")

'Spot' 16 x 20 oil

2008-09-19T15:17:00.000-07:00

This is Spot when he was just a little puppy. I enjoyed painting him. Isn't he adorable?

This is also my first oil painting in over a year! My last one was in Carol Marine's oil painting class in Round Rock, 2007.

Flowers and bugs mural - part2

2008-09-11T06:46:00.000-07:00

This is the last of the murals. It is in a hallway between classes.

Whimsical bugs and flower mural - part1

2008-09-11T06:35:00.000-07:00

This is another fun mural project with whimsical bees, draggonflies, butterflies and ladybugs.

Picket fence mural

2008-09-09T08:31:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since I have posted, but hopefully that will all change from now on!

During the month of August, I worked on several murals at a pre-school in Austin. This one has a country scene with white picket fences, bunnies, birds, butterflies, cows, horses, etc. It wraps around three walls.

Artperitif art show this weekend and 'Diving'

2008-05-02T18:25:00.000-07:00

I am participating in an art show tomorrow, May 3rd. Information can be found on the website http://www.artperitif.com/ Stop by if you can.

I started this portrait a long time ago, but only recently finished it. I love these action shots!

Country road with wild flowers

2008-04-10T19:45:00.000-07:00

Here is one of my new watercolor paintings. I did this painting using a photo I took in Burnet, TX. I just loved the composition with the road leading you to some unknown place and the beautiful wildflowers surrounding it.

Portraits are more than just pictures - they become memories

2008-04-09T19:44:00.000-07:00

The portrait is one of the most curious art forms. It demands special
qualities in the artist, and an almost total kinship with the model. Henri Mattisse (1869-1954)

What happened to time? Before we know it, Christmas will be here again and I haven't even looked into my easter basket yet! A week ago an artist friend of mine discussed the possibility of another gallery and art show, at the same time I am working on getting my website updated - all very exciting possibilities I agree, but (there's always a but isn't there) what happened to all the time I thought I had on the morning of January 1st?

If you're an artist too you'll know how very precious that commodity is to us. We need time to express our talent on canvas, to get lost in vibrant colors, dream along in pastels and of course don't forget the charcoals and pencils. Unfortunately time is the one thing that never waits on us and if you want to do something you better do it or before you know it another day is gone and you're nowhere closer to your ideals and goals for the new year.

As Henri Mattisse said in his quote, when you do a portrait you become familiarly acquinted with your protege. Almost like family. You look into eyes a hundred times until you can identify the different shades of blue, you see all the sun spots on a skin weathered by time and if you look close enough you might even see behind the facade - once you do your portrait is so much more than just a picture on canvas, it becomes a portrait of personality a heirloom that will have a special memory for someone.

Always remember on a commission to do a portrait, its not about how good the artist is, or how beautiful the model, its about how well you can capture the memories that picture brings to mind everytime they look at your painting.

Happy painting

Magda Enslin