#96 & #97 "Women of the Maasai Mara"

"Women of the Maasai Mara" 12x24

This is the second and the largest so far of the, "Women of the Maasai Mara." paintings. This 12x24 oil on canvas depicts a group of eleven Maasai women from a photograph taken while on the Women Like Us Foundation trip last June of 2014. I'm not sure which of the women on the trip actually took the photo but when  I find out I would like to add her name to this post. It was that photo that certainly got my attention as I looked at it over and over, visualizing exactly how I wanted this subject to be portrayed. My goal was  to "pop" the colorful dress against a dark background to display not only that color but also the design. 

I think there is a second trip back to Kenya being planned and who knows, maybe I can go along!

If you would like a brief glimpse into the Women Like Us Foundation's trip to Kenya,  

                                                 

                                                                     Click here -->  http://youtu.be/a8oQgfNzdXE

"Women of the Maasai Mara" 5x7

9/14 Every since my wife Linda returned from her humanitarian mission to Kenya with the Women Like Us Foundation, I've been fascinated by the very colorful dress of the women in many of their photos. I've decided to experiment a bit and see if I can capture some of that vividness. I really hope to do more of these women and do them in various sizes. This 5x7 was my first attempt.  The boat in the foreground was built and given to Linda by some of the students in one of the schools they in which supplies delivered. I thought it added to the overall ambience of the small painting.