Hey, welcome back to Nik-Cre. I hope you’ve had a great week so far…

This weeks project isn’t for my home, but instead for my friend’s. I promised a gentler theme this time around, and I think I have delivered.

‘It’s their first child, I want to give them something meaningful.‘  My beautiful married friends, Francis and Luisa were pregnant and I didn’t want to buy them the typical things. I wanted something that would remain a memory forever and not get thrown away.

I’ve known Luisa since Secondary school. She is one of my dearest friends. Whenever I was in one of my states crying in the school toilets, she was always there to ask if I was ok. We went on our first holiday together, without parents; cycling the streets of Palma. I watched her fall in love and marry her sweetheart Francis. I’m so proud of her. She is confident and brave, unafraid and unashamed to speak her mind. She is a wonderful Mother to her baby girl and a beautiful Wife to her husband.

Initially, I wanted to paint something similar to the gifts you see on Etsy. My colleague came across it when buying gifts for her expectant sister. I thought it was great but, it wasn’t personal enough. I checked out Luisa’s Facebook to see if I could get ideas. She had posted a picture of her scan, and also of her baby bump at third trimester. I decided I would paint a colour version of the scan, with her baby bump. My medium was watercolours, painted quite thickly.

I started with a basic sketch and began painting the baby as I wanted to start with lighter colours. Then followed by the darker tones.

When I gave Luisa and Francis this painting, I have to say I was rather nervous. I had mainly positive reviews from friends and colleagues saying that they would love something like this when they have a baby. As always there is the negative/ strange. One of my friends said it looked like a burnt baby, and another said it looked like a chicken. Well, it’s Art so we all perceive it differently, but Francis and Luisa loved it. They even hung it on their wall.

If you like the painting, feel free to comment and let me know what you think of it. If not, I welcome the criticism; it is one of the ways we are able to make improvements in life. Join me next time for ‘Pinterest Tile Painting.’

Nik-Cre – ‘Making life-less rooms into living rooms.’