The Love Of Art Continues

With this one. My just-turned fourteen year old grandbrat.

(I love this kid!)

On my last visit, I was able to snag some of her wonderful paintings for these photos.

I think most of them were painted in acrylics.

A collage, with a painted self-portrait.

Told ya.

I love these bright colors.

And the bit of gold on the bottom.

Speaking of gold, this was done using a pen with gold ink.

And another one I wanted! A copy of one of my favorite artist's paintings - Vincent Van Gogh.

One afternoon while watching TV, I turned around and there she was, on the kitchen floor,

making a 'friendship bracelet'. I secretly hoped it was for me. :)

Jeez! I want everything, don't I?!

I love the hands.

And the concentration.

And the hair.

I see she got creative with the nail polish too.

So pretty, but SO time-consuming.

Yayyy!! She gave me this one! It will be framed and displayed, forever!

And as if painting wasn't enough - the girl does photography too.

She not only takes the photographs, she develops them as well!

This is the only one I found to take a close up of. It doesn't do it justice.

It was wonderful spending time with this one!!

And that one!! Her sister... my eighteen year old grandbrat.

(I love that kid too!!)

Another one that loves art and is sooo talented!

But that's another story, for another day. ~

There are SO many things to love!

I love "Followers" and comments too!

Thank you.

Signing off for now,

gabriele

Siblings By Birth - Best Friends By Choice

My oldest grandbrats. I love these guys!

They're as close as two sisters can be. True best friends.

I love these two little characters! And they love each other.

I don't think I have one picture of the two of them, where they don't have their arms wrapped around each other.

Here's another one I love! But she's going through the "Terrible-Twos", so she doesn't like anybody.

And she doesn't like wearing a jacket either. She does, however, like wearing the blanket I knitted for her sister's doll.

And when I least expect it, there's this.

Or that.

"You can dress 'em up, but you can't take 'em anywhere."

Yet, we do.

Being a grandmother is one of my greatest blessings!!

(And to my children - I love you too!!)

"Becoming a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you're a mother.

The next you're all-wise and prehistoric."

- Pam Brown

"Grandchildren don't make a man feel old, it's the knowledge that he's married to a grandmother."

- G. Norman Collie

"My grandkids believe I'm the oldest thing in the world. And after two or three hours with them, I believe it too. "

- Gene Perret

"Few things are more delightful than grandchildren fighting over your lap."

- Doug Larson

"You're more trouble than the children are" is the greatest compliment a grandparent can receive."

- Gene Perret

There are SO many things to love!

I love "Followers" and comments too!

Thank you.

Signing off for now,

gabriele

For The Love Of Art: Part Three. SCORE!!

I found my brushes! I found my brushes!! I found my brushes!!!

If you read the previous art-posts, part one and part two, you understand my excitement!

I found my French easel hidden away in storage too!

And my Van Gogh-wannabe hat.

(Don't call the police, that's a mannequin leg.)

I also came across my big ol' honkin' oil paint case.

I used to lug that thing all over the place.

When I opened it up, the wonderful smell of the oil paints hit me in the face.

It was awesome!

More oils.

I'd wrapped the brushes in plastic baggies, in case any little bugs decided to move into the storage area. I hear they're quite fond of nibbling on the bristles.

Many years ago, I took a three-day workshop with the very talented artist, Ted Goerschner, in Los Olivos, CA. Another student did this 8" x 10" painting of me. Proof that I actually did plein-air painting... for at least three days anyway. I realized that painting outdoors is not my thing. (I love this painting! Thank you Dorie!)

I've put the Van Gogh-wannabe hat on my mannequin for now. She looks better in it anyway.

So, I started a painting in acrylics, but I whined about missing my oil paints. I had to switch, because I'm now sensitive to the solvents used with oils. Then my artist friend, Linda Walker, and my blogger friend, Lou Ceel, told me about "water-soluble oil paints". Be still my heart!!

I had to have 'em!

Like I do with all my painting mediums, I made a color wheel. It turns out that these paints feel like the oils I remembered and loved! Smooth as cake frosting to mix. I have to admit, I miss the smell though.

Cleaning the brushes in water... I did notice that the water needed to be changed much more often than when using Turpentine. So, I get a little exercise too. It's a win-win situation.

I still have some colors to add, but here it is. My water-soluble oil paint color wheel.

I've always loved Vincent Van Gogh, but even more so lately. I'm watching his movies, reading his books and drooling over his paintings all over again. He gives me such inspiration! What a talent!!

Yet such a tortured soul.

This is the painting I began in acrylics. I plan to finish it with these oils. It's nice that I can paint over acrylics with oils. It can't be the other way around... no acrylics on top of oils.

"Fat over lean" is the artsy term. (Sounds like my body, when I pig-out on sweets.)

Wish me luck, guys!

For The Love Of Art: Part One

For The Love Of Art: Part Two

There are SO many things to love!

I love "Followers" and comments too!

Thank you.

Signing off for now,

gabriele

Celebrating One Birthday - Twice

When it's the eighteenth, that's great! When you're older than dirt, not so much.

It was my first grandbrat's birthday. I think she liked her little surprise party!

Yup! Even her sister got a thank-you hug.

You see before you, one very happy girl!

She loves books, like me.

Something else from her aunt. What can it be?

It's well-received.

The girl likes anything English.

Hey! How did this one manage to get a cupcake - and I didn't?!

Ohhh, very pretty.

"If I can't have a cupcake, would somebody please let me outta here?!"

And a necklace.

She likes this too.

Not so sure about this one.

Okay... she likes it.

A lot.

But, apparently, she likes the cupcake more.

Give her sister one too. She looks like she's fading fast. (A couple of clowns!)

And there you have it... her 'first' little birthday party. Ta Da!

The next day -

Heeere comes party number 'two'. Bring it on!!

Hmmm... I wonder what this is.

YESSS!!

Sweet!!

Dad helping out.

I love this picture. Such happiness. :)

(Does anybody notice the scary-lookin' black dog?)

Ohhh, yeahhh.

A card is always nice. Especially when there's cash involved. (Notice her right hand.)

But she's got class and actually read all of it.

I gave her a heart necklace with mushy grandmother-stuff engraved on it.

In reeeally tiny writing.

I live for these bear-hugs from my family!!

Tuning the new guitar. (Dad's glowing with pride.)

Trying it out. Sounds good!

I love her beautiful hands.

She gets them from her other grandmother.

She most definitely does not have my ham-hocks!

The birthday party was over, but the music continued.

Since then, there's been a haircut -

And a prom.

But that's another story for another day ~

There are SO many things to love!

I love "Followers" and comments too!

Thank you.

Signing off for now,

gabriele