Homemade Portraits

Samuel
Roxie Jane
Stewart
Maxwell
Suzanna




First tip was GO OUTSIDE! Unless you have studio lights and reflectors and a hair spot (I am quoting Seth H., yes, clued me into why some of the Church News mission president couple photos looked wonderful or awful).


My mother-by-marraige wants a portrait of her first born for Christmas/birthday. She still has one of him when he was 17 hung up in her house, and she wants an update. I won't count how many I have taken of him today (close to 100, seriously) and then I websurfed for some hints. Needed some help to get rid of some pesky shadows that made his hair look weird. And I love this one! His eyes sparkle, he looks like the man I married! Things I learned:
1. put digital camera on HEAD portrait icon (that's what that is?!)
2. turn on flash, so will flash every time (I had to press a button to get the lighting icon on all the time, not on A for automatically letting camera decide)
3. zoom all the way IN
4. step back enough to frame person's head/torso (don't worry about pants)
5. take lots and lots of photos!
6. the more distance between person and background, the better. You want it to fuzz out and blur background. Above settings help to do that.

Ninjas at our house!

I didn't get a picture of Max--he started it, taught the kids how to take a tshirt and make a costume with it! They got dressed up and then played hide-and-go-seek. Fun cousin memories.

One Big Table!

I love sit down, no kid table, all together, pass counter-clockwise! Missed Emma, but called her to say "Hi, we love you!" I am thankful for big families and lots of laughter and love shared!

Swimming and It's OK to Paint over My Paint...

We rejoined the club! It has been 2 years since we were there. We told the kids tonight this is our family Christmas present, and we all went to celebrate. There was another family from Church there, and the kids made a noodle train, with Max as engine, pulling their weight through the water. Stewart was in the salt pool. I was in the hot tub spa, and John took these photos!



John loves the lighting on this one.


Roxie Jane here; we all had fun!


The rest of my week has been painting busy! BEFORE of a tiny claustrobic-inducing room. Client painted ceiling blue for sky and walls green for earth, but knew it needed something more.

DURING: This is my favorite cloud view before quotes and ribbons added. THESE are my clouds!


AFTER







The challenge: take a 5 year old mural and inject some life into it. The owner wasn't sure what it needed, thought maybe some birds? She said she cried when it was done by the first artist, was never happy with it. She gave me the freedom to do whatever I wanted to...She had no qualms about how the 1st artist would feel. If someone needed to do this to one of my murals, I would not be offended. But I guess I would rather not know. It is a decorating choice. And I believe you can outgrow colors, themes. Even haircut styles need updating every few years. This is NOT my water fountain.
Not my pillars.
Not my clouds. Trying to be nice, they remind me of sheep grazing in a blue field...
Overview of BEFORE! That's Amy there in background, packing up to give me space to paint.
DURING: Consolidated columns, callmed down clouds, cypress trees added here, fountain and brick pathway are gone.
AFTER: Right side, with recycled birds on branch (see Billie's Bathroom!)
Left side, with my two favorite birds!
Long shot, final view. Whew! I had the office key and worked until 11:30 pm to finish. Much easier to work alone, quiet, no audience. Time speeds by surprising me with late hour.

Birthdays are about Beginnings

Once upon a time a BYU student from California (returned missionary) married another BYU student from Virginia. She worked, he finished school. Years later she would graduate...because the babies came first. I am thankful for the priorities my parents placed on family life! This porch saw a lot of action for photo-ops! I think my mom is beautiful! And she looks good in pink! A young mom, with a huge happy baby, and yes, that is a milk spit-up. No wonder I am smiling!
(Is this Great Grandma Davidson or Great Grandma FOX? It is labeled D, but I think it is F! Whose porch--would that help document??? Is there an F hiding behind Mom's left foot? Help me historian family members!)


I am thankful for Mom (Grandma Jane-to-my kids)and her wisdom and peacefulness. She is smart, thoughtful, insightful. She loves to read and go on shopping adventures (treasure hunting in thrift stores). When I miss Emma away at school, I think about the times I have missed my mom, living so far away. Tomorrow/Thanksgiving they will be together, to celebrate the peace and plenty we share and to sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hope it is a great gathering! Love you lots!

Busy Week Already...

Billie's Green Birdie Bathroom. My bad photos making the soft sage look weirdly yellow...It was stark builder white before I started. She hasn't seen it yet, still out of town until next week, so I have time to tweak it...


And another client this week. I love word-of-mouth referrals! Before picture.
This shot shows both seagulls, name in polka dots, an island she wanted...
I was happy with 2 palm trees, but the client wanted one more. Where is my contract in place when I need it? (There is a contract clause that talks about additions after the artist is "done" and a whole section about interruptions, wandering pets, watching work-in-progress that protects my trying-to-please personality and my NOT-strongly-enough-worded-aesthetic recommendations. Each mural addition is more $ that way, instead of first agreed price covering everything possibly done, hours or even days later, until client is finally happy. Been there. I had an art teacher once explain that it is important to know when to STOP before you ruin something by going [1 tree] too far!) Live and learn and trust John's insight, go the contract route.
This girl plays on the lacrosse team with Gabby--saw her palm trees, wanted some for her pre-sponged room. I talked her into a glow-in-dark moon instead of sunrise, works better wtih the colors in her room!
Sister of Megan, same house. Preteen into sports--all of them! I should have taken a picture of her trophy wall, not just soccer, but golf, basketball, baseball, she does it all!

Ageless

I met her in art class. She had cool shoes. My baby Emma loved playing with the beads on her shoes. We had the same first name (almost) and it was easy to talk with her. I gave my brother her phone number, and he married her in DC temple!

Happy Birthday to Jen! Hope this day is a great day, a Monday worth remembering. Hope they make you a great cake!

This is most recent Jen Babcock painting of her daughter (and it is on my blog why? Inspiration, and to show you how good she is!)


Some people age really well. They look the same year after year, recognizable, consistent. My sister-by-marraige is one of those lucky people. If she has grey hair, they aren't showing. This is a 2003 Thanksgiving photo, and I think she looks the same today!

Dance!

When I see murals, I try and get a photo, to study, see what works, what isn't as sucessful, things I would change. These are from our Morgantown trip earlier in September this year.

And today, they made me want to dance! I think I need to do more movements during Primary singing time. Maybe not "dancing" but some actions. I've got the wiggles. Tapping toes. Ready for one of those dipping kisses wearing a long dress!

Stars & Wrap Around Murals

This is one star from the quilt I made Mom & Dad years ago...




I like the idea of continuity, completeness, unity, wholeness. My favorite murals to do wrap around the entire room, including the ceiling, so you feel like you are inside the picture. This poster display is for a silent auction donation I gave to support the public library.

This morning I helped 2nd graders pass off their Pledge of Alleigience. They have to know it word for word correctly for the Patriot Program. If they said all the words correctly, I asked them if they had any questions about what the words meant.

I asked one girl what indivisible meant.

"Like you can't see it?"

Another girl asked what "under God" meant. It took me back, I took a deep breath, remembered I was in public school, and told her "It means that the men and women who helped start this country believed that God was over all, watching out for them, protecting them." I wanted to tell her more, but she nodded, and it was enough.

Michael Birthday Bash!

I called Emmalyn today and heard she was up in SLC celebrating Uncle Michael's b-day with carrot cake cupcakes, all 2__ candles in one! What year were you born? Was I 16 when I took you shopping and pretended you were mine? All mine, and not just me babysitting you for Mom while she went to classes (It is great to cheer your mom up on the stage as she graduates from college!) You will be a good dad to your own baby girl, counting down the weeks left now!

Primaries

The Primary children sang today in Church--they did a great job! I was so impressed with their hard work to learn the songs.

This week we have an activity day for the Primary children--and I get a whole half hour to sing with them, teach them new songs! First up is the Preamble to the Constitution, using School House Rock's version of "We the people..." The bishop gave us permission to do it on an activity day--and this is the first one we've had. I feel strongly about teaching the children about being a patriot, loving this country, knowing what we stand for, what we believe in as Americans.

The emphasis will be on being thankful and patriotism. Have you heard Wakko from Animaniacs singing the capitols and states? Sung to "Turkey in the Straw" so it is perfect! Also thinking about first verse of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" and "Over the River and Through the Woods" all 60 lines of it! Ambitious line up of songs, I know. But these kids are so good! Smart, good singers, fun to be with!

This photo is back in the other primaries. Primary colors, primary daughter! primary elections, Primary kids at Church. All my primary concerns and loves!

7 weeks to Christmas

We had a family home evening lesson on getting ready for Christmas--our goals as a family. Keeping it simple. Not spending lots of money we don't have. Thinking and learning more about Christ. I want our kids to love Him, respect Him, turn to Him when they hurt.

Recent things that have made me realize this should be our emphasis this season: I've been reading some books in the public library marked "Inspirational" and paying attention to what beliefs are explained, the questions asked by characters. I want to make sure my kids know now and have a good foundation so they do not doubt their faith when things get harder. Second, the women's lesson last Sunday in Sycracuse, visiting my sister. The teacher is married to an FBI agent, talked about her crisis of faith and her father's wise counsel to focus on Christ, think about Him, get to know Him better and just follow Him. Easy answer, sweet in its promise.

Outer Space room

Start with a cute nephew, daddy bedtime stories with a specific theme (see Roger's link to Jack and Firebolt stories), a blank canvas (well, the base coat Award Blue by Behr paint, done by his mom) and a weekend of painting!


I am showing you some process pictures, during the job here...








This is to show Deb what I did with the window screen I pulled out of garbage curbside free pile in New York: turned it into a door office with fabric pockets.



I painted this chair for Deb.