As an oil portrait artist who often works in outdoor settings, I’ve always found Monet’s palette deeply inspiring. His ability to capture fleeting light and the dance of color in nature is something I strive for in my own work. Yet, even more than his paintings, I’ve long been captivated by the place that inspired them—his gardens at Giverny.
A few days later, we set out on a bicycle ride through the French countryside toward Giverny. The air was warm, scented with wildflowers, and the rolling fields seemed like a prelude to what awaited us. Arriving at Monet’s home, I felt as though I was stepping into one of his canvases—only this one was alive, buzzing with bees and softly swaying in the breeze.
The water garden, with its famous Japanese bridge draped in wisteria, was just as enchanting as I had imagined. Standing there, I could see the direct connection between life and art—the way the dappled light filtered through leaves, the way lily pads floated like tiny islands, each crowned with a bloom. In the distance, the pond mirrored the sky, shifting from green to blue to gold, just as Monet had painted it countless times.
The flower garden in front of his pink house was a kaleidoscope of color—rows of purple alliums, pale pink roses, and bursts of yellow irises. I’ve always seen my own garden as a living canvas, a place where I can paint with flowers. ferns, moss, waterfalls and a myriad of trees, shrubs and ground covers. But here, in Monet’s carefully orchestrated paradise, I saw the ultimate artist’s garden—a harmonious interplay of color, texture, and seasonality that could inspire a lifetime of work.
It was easy to imagine Monet stepping outside each morning, brush in hand, to capture the beauty just beyond his door. That sense of immediacy and intimacy with nature is something I hope to bring into my own paintings, allowing each piece to feel like a breath of fresh air.
Returning home, I found myself looking at my own garden differently. The hydrangeas seemed more luminous, the shadows more interesting, the air more alive with color. Monet’s world—both the painted and the planted—have greatly inspired me to create and capture beauty. I was reminded that art and life are inseparable, and that a garden can be more than a space to enjoy. It can be a place to dream, to create, and to see the world in a whole new light.
Announcing Our Sixth Annual Portrait Contest: A Parisian Picnic
A treasured spring tradition, my portrait contest with the children’s dress brand Charlotte sy Dimby is a way to bring together art and traditional handcrafted fashion to celebrate the beauty of childhood. Each year, the theme is different. For 2025 we decided on : A Parisian Picnic.
After many requests, this year we welcome boys to our contest! We’re excited to see children of all ages dressed in Charlotte sy Dimby fashion enjoying the simple delight of a picnic under the blue skies of spring .
As always, I’ll share photography tips along the way to help you capture your moments with the same warmth and artistry that inspire my own portraits. And together, we’ll celebrate a shared love of beauty, tradition, and timeless childhood joy.
We can’t wait to see your Parisian Picnics unfold!
All the details of the submission process can be found here! The contest will run until the 3rd of June.
Why a Parisian picnic? The answer lies in both art history and personal inspiration.
The Parisian Picnic thus seemed a most fitting theme! We invite families from around the world to join us on this journey and create their own French-inspired magic. Whether in a backyard, a city park, or a blooming garden, all it takes is a blanket, a basket, perhaps a few macarons — and of course, a Charlotte sy Dimby outfit — to bring the vision to life.
DEEPER REFLECTION ON OUR CONTESTS
The launch of this contest has also been an opportunity to look back on the previous ones and reflect on the true meaning behind these projects. Beyond the joy and beauty, there’s even deeper significance behind each one!
The birth of the contests : A way of bringing beauty to uncertain and challenging times
When the world slowed down during the pandemic, so did travel for my portrait commissions. Like many artists, I found myself in a time of stillness and uncertainty. But rather than let that silence dim the creative spark, I saw it as an opportunity to find new ways of spreading beauty and light into the lives of others.
Confined to my studio, I turned to the Impressionists — Monet and Renoir in particular — diving deep into their palettes of soft violets, glimmering pinks, and luminous greens. Their ability to capture light and joy on canvas felt like the perfect antidote to the heaviness of the world. Inspired by their radiant work, I dreamed of a way to celebrate innocence, femininity, and timeless charm — and thus, the Charlotte sy Dimby portrait contests were born.
The last four years have also been the most difficult period of my life. During this time, I lost both of my parents, and our beloved daughter, Maloy. I've realized that sometimes God does indeed seem to give you more than you can bear, but through our unwavering faith in His saving grace through Jesus Christ, constant prayer, and deciding to find joy amidst the sorrow, my family and I have become stronger than we were before facing these challenges. Throughout these life changing losses, our yearly contests continued to inspire and uplift me.
The First Contest: Tea Party
Sarah Cate & Callie, winners of our first Charlotte sy Dimby portrait contest
During the quiet days of lockdown, our mutual love for tea parties provided the perfect theme.
We invited mothers around the world to dress their daughters in Charlotte sy Dimby and capture magical tea party moments at home. I offered simple photography tips to help them use natural light and thoughtful compositions — echoes of the same light and color that had captivated me in Monet and Renoir’s work.
The response was overwhelming. We received entries from across continents, each one a window into tender family moments and the joy of childhood. Seeing girls twirl in their dresses, pouring tea from tiny porcelain pots, surrounded by lace and flowers — it was a reminder that even in uncertain times, beauty is powerful!
The Second Contest: Princess and Posie
Maya, winner of the Princess and Posie contest
What began as a small way to stay creative during a global pause blossomed into a global celebration of art, childhood, and handmade craftsmanship. It remains one of the most joyful projects I’ve ever taken part in — and a testament to the idea that art, even in the simplest forms, can bring light into the darkest days. A second contest seemed only natural.
We themed it around flowers. Just like impressionist artists, nature and in particular gardening is a passion of mine! Little girls were asked to pose among their favourite flowers. What beautiful blossoms of joy and color we received!Â
Maya, whose parents are originally from Ukraine, was our winner. Maya's portrait photo was taken at Belmont University and Mansion Grounds. It is her family's favorite place in Nashville. After moving from NYC in the middle of the pandemic, it soon became their little oasis of peace and beauty where they would come for picnics, riding scooters, feeding squirrels, and dipping their toes in the creek on hot summer days. There is also a beautiful rose garden that they always took time to admire, especially in spring.
The Third Contest: Twirling into Spring
Anna Alicia from The Netherlands, Winner of the Twirling into Spring contest
Our 2022 contest, Twirling into Spring, was one of our most enchanting yet. Charlotte sy Dimby’s signature circle skirts naturally inspire twirling and this contest was so enthusiastically received! We invited parents to photograph their children spinning among spring blooms, and we were amazed by the joyful entries from around the world. Our winner, Anna Alicia from Zwijndrecht, The Netherlands, captured hearts with her radiant twirls and blooming backdrop — a perfect embodiment of the season’s charm.
The Fourth Contest: Curtsy and a Smile to Light Up the World
"Twinkle", winner of the Curtsy and a Smile contest
The Curtsy and a Smile contest was held during the most difficult time of my life, after the loss of our middle daughter. Seeing all the sweet, happy entries brought joy and comfort into dark days. Our winner, "Twinkle" lives in the beautiful Rosewood Manor in Marion, South Carolina. I delivered their portrait myself and loved spending time with this beautiful girl and her family.
The Fifth Contest: Princess and Pet
Sophie, winner of the Princess and Pet contest
Some of my favorite portraits that I have painted have been of children with their pets or stuffed animals. Our Princess and Pet contest entries included pets of all kinds, but this winsome pose of Sophie really captured my heart! I absolutely love this portrait! It was a joy to get to know her sweet family and I was delighted that they chose a beautiful frame by AMCI Regence. It will look beautiful in their new home in Dallas! Charlotte sy Dimby wrote the most beautiful article about the unveiling of Sophie's portrait. Read it here.
May this sixth contest be just as wonderful as the previous ones!
“It is truly useful since it is beautiful." The Little Prince
Houston beauty Josephine and her parents are world travelers and art collectors. They particularly love this portrait by the Spanish master Velázquez.
Velázquez (Diego RodrÃguez de Silva y Velázquez) (Spanish, 1599–1660) "Portrait of a Young Girl"
Having designed their home to accommodate large pieces of art, the wall where they are planning to hang the portrait is perfect! No size limitations! Josephine’s beautiful dress was purchased especially for her portrait from Harrods of London.
I have spent much time studying the technique and palette of Velasquez. For Josephine’s portrait, I began by toning the linen canvas with raw umber. I then did an underpainting using the grisaille technique which was employed by Velasquez, Vermeer and other Old Masters. I began with an underpainting in a grayscale of ultramarine blue mixed with burnt Sienna and white. On top of this I applied thin translucent layers of color to achieve glowing skin tones .
I have been using a variation of Velázquez’ palette for years, since my time studying under John Howard Sanden in New York City. This palette consists of:
Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean Blue, Viridian, Chromium Oxide Green, Alizarin Crimson, Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna, Cadmium Orange, Venetian Red, Cadmium Red Light, Yellow Ochre and Cadmium Yellow Light, White and Ivory Black. (I prefer Permelba White, a buttery mixture of Titanium and Zinc White)
Because of the process of painting in layers with drying time in between, I've had Josephine around my studio for quite some time! I'm going to miss her!
