Untitled (Flowers) October 2002 Watercolor. Sophia loved painting in washes. She would tell me that paint was all about light and translucence. From the beginning, Sophia would play with paints to create deep, dark colors that through her masterful brush strokes still felt light and translucent.

“Sam” Painting By Sophia Ehrlich, October 2002, Watercolor. This was the first watercolor portrait Sophia painted. The subject is her grandson (and my son), Sam at age 12.

Untitled (Floral Study) Painting by Sophia Ehrlich, September 2002 Watercolor. During her first year of watercolor painting Sophia’s subject was mainly flowers. This had more to do with what her instructor suggesting she paint than with Sophia’s interests. She admired her instructor’s talents, but it would not be too long before Sophia would break out of the beginner’s box and venture into very complication subjects like glass, fur and feathers, and complex portraits.

Untitled (Nude Woman) Painting by Sophia Ehrlich, September 2002 Watercolor. This is the only nude study Sophia painted. She was more interested in painting faces and people in situations that would portray a story, not just a mood.