I took a walk on MSU's campus and enjoyed a look at another part of campus -- spring blooms are waning a bit but still, nature is its best work of art. Meanwhile, I decided to do a bit of art of my own.
That small photo of Rick and our Littlest Grand at Easter is one of my favorites. There is a gentle poignance of a small boy -- not even three -- holding grandpa's hand. Best of all, it has no faces to it made a worthy painting subject! Monique's "Paris People" were such an inspiration!
First a sketch. As you can see, it is not without issue. Trust me. Rick's legs aren't that stubby -- I ran out of paper!
I tried to shorten his waist a little as I painted it but it still isn't quite right. Still, the painting was good practice and I plan to do this one till I get it right! The changes are minor but they make a difference. (For example, when I shortened the waist to add what I could to the legs, I forgot to shorten the arms, too!)
It actually works much better when it is cropped! Let's cut 'em off at the knees!
Not that long ago I did a couple of dog portrait's too. This is "Snickers."
And this is "Levi." You might know their "people."
My campus walk was less than inspiring but I did check a couple spots I don't normally walk by. This is our Alumni Memorial Chapel. I've been in more than a few weddings and funerals there.
The magnolias are really fading.
Still, a look at the river beyond the chapel is lovely.
I can seldom resist a photo of the wonderful lamp posts.
Here is another of the early dorms. This is my favorite part of the campus.
There are still some white blossoms coming on that didn't seem to be hit by our several days of below-freezing weather.
And while I was driving, I kept hearing the sound of drums! I found them!
They were practicing for the U's first exhibition football game of the season over the weekend. It's the first campus event I'm aware of that will allow spectators -- 6,000 in our 70,000+ sized stadium. (I will not be one of them.)
I rescued some blooms from my yard before the frost. Rick says they look like a science experiment in their clear vases of different sizes -- daffodils, hyacinths, muscai, lilac and bleeding heart.
I can work with that! Have a great weekend and week, inside...
...and out!
Sharing with: Let's Keep In Touch / Pink Saturday / Love Your Creativity
Your are is so good Jeanie, I'm always so impressed. You are very talented! The photos are beautiful too and I adore your "science experiment" so pretty! :)
ReplyDelete"spring flowers for Denise" by Morris Graves come to mind - the daffodils in clear glass vases, Lovely. I love what you have done!
ReplyDeleteA post is not complete if it doesn't have pictures in it. You've got your art- paintings done by your talent, and outdoors with beautiful landscape which provide you with great photographic opportunities. So, your posts are rich in splendid photos.
ReplyDeleteThe grandfather (Rick) and the small boy picture, is truly a masterpiece!
The chapel is distinctive.
ReplyDeleteI love your paintings, they would make lovely greeting cards :)
ReplyDeleteI love seeing your watercolors and reading about your process. Seeing your campus photos, I feel a little nostalgic for my own campus days.
ReplyDeleteYep, that picture shows the long arm of the law as vested in grandpa! As you say the imagery is very evocative, in many respects more so than a frontal view. And the campus looks like a very inviting place.
ReplyDeleteI love your enthusiasm with watercolors, and how you keep trying until you're happy with the results. And of course, little Levi's painting! What can I say? You captures his personality personality perfectly.
ReplyDeleteFabulous paintings Jeanie. I especially love the one of Rick and the little baby grand. You have lots of inspiration with those spring bloom photos as well as your "science experiment". That would even make an interesting painting. Looks like you are enjoying your spring. And hopefully no more frost. Here they say it could happen until memorial Day, but some years that doesn't happen. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteBeauty is simply everywhere including at your fingertips.
ReplyDeleteMUCH TOO PRETTY to be a "science experiment". ha ha LOL!---love the flower arrangement like that! I think that's really pretty, i will try it. Love the walk about the campus too, very pretty and so spring-like. Oh my!!?? Your temps have dipped way down again, yikes??---hope warm weather is on THE WAY TO STAY THIS TIME! Hope your weekend is bright and happy. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful flowers, and love the water-colour paintings, well done. It's still very cold here, although the sun is shining. Love the older buildings on the campus! Hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteHello Jeanie,
ReplyDeleteYour art work is awesome, love the one with Rick and the grand. The dogs are so cute.
Beautiful spring blossoms. Happy Sunday, have a great new week!
Beautiful flowers, and such great photos of the campus. Love the painting of Levi, we used to have a mini schnauzer, such a sweet face.
ReplyDeleteWow, you´re an amazing artist and if you´d said nothing about the arm I might not have even noticed, enjoying the whole, sweet picture.
ReplyDeleteLove all the blooms and flowers. It starts here, also! To a great weekend (Ingo sadly is sick again...)
Jeanie, I always love to see what you are painting. I love Grandpa holding 3 year old grandson’s hand, so sweet and yes poignant. We had a big frost on Thursday morning, the latest I ever remember. Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteLove your paintings. The one did remind me of Monique and her Paris people! Have a lovely Sunday.
ReplyDeleteWow! Right off the bat!!Wonderful Jeanie..I find faces so intimidating!Bravo! And all yout blooms..Enjoy Sunday!
ReplyDeleteI love your sketches and photos.
ReplyDeleteRick and your youngest grand is wonderful . . .
And of course . . . our Snickers . . .
Framed it will be . . .
Always nice to see how an artist thinks and creates her work. I like your drawing of Rick and the grandson and the process as to how it came about.
ReplyDeleteI admire your work and your efforts to improve. I like this subject. All those lovely spring flowers make for a wonderful walk, and it must be nice to have such a variety in your own yard.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fine watercolor of grandpa and grandson! Awesome job!!! Janice
ReplyDeletejeanie,
ReplyDeleteI am always amazed at your artistic talents!! Great pictures too!!Thanks so much f or always stopping by!!
Hugs,
Deb
The artwork looks lovely. It's a shame you run out of paper, but cropping it was such a good idea. I think it looks wonderful and I remember seeing the picture before because it's lovely and a bit emotional.
ReplyDeleteThe painting of Rick and his grandson is so cute, and so are the dog portraits.
ReplyDeleteNice flowers in the vases.
Jeanie, the painting of Rick and 'Little One' is so sweet. That will be a treasure one day. I also enjoyed your photos of the campus, it must be lovely to see. Your blooms are so pretty. The daffodils are about finished here. We had snow last week and are to have 82 tomorrow. But, that is spring.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
you really captured the sweetness of Rick and his grandson - adorable!
ReplyDeleteThe watercolor is impressive even if the proportions were not correct. Cropping really did make it look even better.. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteIt's been windy here.. meaning all the petals are flying off our trees.. almost no spring flowers left.
Love the painting of Rick and the grand Jeanie, what a treasure. And the sweet pups, darling. I love to walk on campus here too, especially springtime. Fall is also beautiful. We'll be having a large gathering for games here as well. You betcha, I won't be attending either. I hope the day comes we won't have to think twice about being in a crowd! I had to chuckle at Rick's comment about the clear containers. I love the look, so natural, see only the lovely flowers. I've been to the garden center and I've already planted flats of impatience, a gardenia topiary and two holly shrubs. Taking break and back outside to enjoy this beautiful day and complain about the aching back :)
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of using separate vases. Then you can put a bloom here and a bloom there, always a nice idea!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of using lots of different vases. That way you can spread the flowers around. That's a touching little watercolour of Rick and the little guy!
ReplyDeleteMy husband is doing portraits in drawing and painting classes and to get the portions right the professor made him blow up the picture and put a 1/2 in grid on it, Then make a one inch grid on the big painting paper and when you sketch with the water color pens you erase the markings. The professor says that helps with portion! Love your paintings!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful. I ❤️ It
ReplyDeleteNow I am smiling about the science project vases. I love a cluster of glass vases, so think it is very pretty. All the blossoms on the campus are beautiful. We have a college campus two blocks from us, but they went bankrupt and closed a year ago. I was just walking through the deserted campus a few minutes ago. There were so many cherry blossoms raining down. I didn't walk there because the side walk was slippery with wet blossoms. Wondering if your magnolia blossoms get slippery when they fall to the ground?
ReplyDeleteLove your painting and it made me smile to see how you adjusted it to the paper size.
I would never have noticed Rick's foreshortened legs had you not mentioned it. I was still an absolutely adorable painting.
ReplyDeleteLoved the dog watercolors, too. They are beautiful. And your photos of the campus are stunning. Had to laugh at your science experiment, but I really, really enjoyed the way you arranged the flowers.
Looks like life is back to normal for you over there. And what a beautiful spring you’re having. But above all, love those grandpa and grandson paintings.
ReplyDeleteWonderful watercolors - love the sweet subjects xx You really captured the moment and the little dog's faces. The flowering trees against the wonderful architecture is so pretty. Your science experiment is wonderful! Hope you get some spring sunshine this week. Hugs xo
ReplyDeleteI love your paintings.
ReplyDeleteI love photos of backs, they seem to really capture the subject without the distraction of faces. Even though you aren't happy with some of the proportions, it does look like Rick and his grandson, so sweet!
ReplyDeleteJenna
I love the painting you are working on! There is something about capturing the backs of people. One of my fave photos of 2020 is of Phil and Paul sitting on the dock at the lake! There’s an intimacy to them!
ReplyDeleteIt has been so cold here recently but will warm up this week thank goodness. I am tired of being so cold!
I admire your talent, the painting is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Jeanie, that is the best painting I've seen yet. They are all good but this one is perfect even if you think the proportions aren't right. I have a real photo of Jake and Grandpa about the same ages as yours are and it is my most precious possession..Take care my friend..xxoJudy
ReplyDeleteWow! You can paint too! You are amazing! Nice job my friend.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the rest of your week.
I love the painting of Rick and the grand. It's wondrous.
ReplyDeleteAnd you've got a lilac among your flowers. Yay.
I love seeing your art. My daughter-in-law's mom had just starting doing some paintings when she was struck with cancer at the end of last year and passed away in January. It gave Diana so much joy in the last months of her life.
ReplyDeleteThis painting of Rick and your grandson is precious, Jeanie. You did a wonderful job on it. The campus looks so pretty this time of year with those Pink blossom trees gracing the campus. That is a sweet painting of Snickers too. I always enjoy seeing your creative paintings. You are so talented.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
Aren't those lamp posts exquisite?
ReplyDeleteHave a day filled with sunshine and soft breezes.
I love blooms displayed that way! I love that "holding on to Grampa" painting too!
ReplyDeleteSometimes, "getting cut off at the legs" is a good thing! That's such an adorable photo, and you've done a fine job with your painting. Honestly, it's the hand-holding that's the important thing, and a foreshortened view actually emphasizes that!
ReplyDeleteHow are you doing my friend
ReplyDeleteYou definitely picked the prettiest part of campus for your walk. I miss it so much!
ReplyDeleteAdorable painting of Rick and your Grandson. The magnolia is lovely. it's fun to take a walk and take in Mother nature. Happy Thursday.
ReplyDeleteADORABLE painting. I love it. Blooms, we are about bloom free on the trees. Still a few dogwoods in bloom but the others are done and have been done. My iris are blooming now.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it a shame that the beauty of magnolias lasts for only a few weeks. Your painting is lovely. Yes grandpa and grandson holding hands is beautifully moving.
ReplyDeleteLovely paintings and the photos are beautiful, too. :)
ReplyDelete♡ ☯ ☮ P&P style ☮ ☯ ♡
Me again!! Just stopped by to thank you for your visit!! Stay safe, healthy and happy!!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Debbie
Yet again I missed a post from you (I'm putting a positive spin on this by emphasizing that I'm spending less time on the computer and more time on real life). I love your watercolors. The flowers are lovely and I expect to see them in a painting in the future.
ReplyDeleteAgain I've been away from Blogspot. I'm so happy to see you are still full of creativity & zest: Your painting, your walks, your observations and reverence for the world around you. I love college campuses.
ReplyDeleteDrawing people: I've always had the tendency to elongate...I like the way you "corrected" by cropping.
Have a great weekend, Jeanie!
Your paintings are lovely especially the one with Rick and his grandson.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan