Melissa loves: Tonya Engel

Of course I have summer on my mind and the first time I looked at Tonya's beautiful "Butterflies in my hair" I thought of summery picnics at a long farmhouse table in a pretty green yard under a large old oak tree, there would be white linens and lemonade.....a pretty woven wicker picnic basket, sparkling clear glasses and lovely light flowy dresses..There was something familiar about Tonya's piece, something I couldn't quite put my finger on. When Tonya told me she was inspired by expressionist artists like Gauguin and Paula Rego, I thought "Oh, of course!" For Tonya, "Their work represents to me unharnessed emotion and inner dramas that can play out in a simple facial expression or body language."

In each of Tonya's paintings there is a familiarity in the simple and calm expressions on her ladies(or girls) faces but, contained inside there is a depth of emotion manifested in the beauty around them or quite literally coming out of her hair or hidden beneath her skirt as in "butterlies in my hair" or "the actress II". For Tonya, when she looks at her piece she sees femininity,quiet contemplation and a "joy in the presence of every fleeting moment." Thank you Tonya, for sharing that joy with us!
xo
Melissa

1. A rose for food by Dinosaurtoes
2. Lily purse by marykaiser
3. Pink and Red Strawberries Crochet Necklace by TinyBazaar (a brand new shop by Danielle Thompson)  
4. Vintage Picnic basket cookie jar by vintageye 
5. Fluttering Amore Paper Wreath by Haru 
6. Joy bouquet by lgbrinkley