Saturday, April 24, 2021

Art -- Indoors and Out

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    

59 comments:

Martha said...

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! :)

Linda Sue said...

"spring flowers for Denise" by Morris Graves come to mind - the daffodils in clear glass vases, Lovely. I love what you have done!

DUTA said...

A 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.
The grandfather (Rick) and the small boy picture, is truly a masterpiece!

William Kendall said...

The chapel is distinctive.

Nikki - Notes of Life said...

I love your paintings, they would make lovely greeting cards :)

Pamela said...

I love seeing your watercolors and reading about your process. Seeing your campus photos, I feel a little nostalgic for my own campus days.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Yep, 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.

Misadventures of Widowhood said...

I 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.

My name is Erika. said...

Fabulous 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

Linda said...

Beauty is simply everywhere including at your fingertips.

BeachGypsy said...

MUCH 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!

Valerie-Jael said...

Beautiful 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

eileeninmd said...

Hello Jeanie,
Your 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!

Carole @ From My Carolina Home said...

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.

Iris Flavia said...

Wow, 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.
Love all the blooms and flowers. It starts here, also! To a great weekend (Ingo sadly is sick again...)

Pam Richardson said...

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!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Love your paintings. The one did remind me of Monique and her Paris people! Have a lovely Sunday.

La Table De Nana said...

Wow! Right off the bat!!Wonderful Jeanie..I find faces so intimidating!Bravo! And all yout blooms..Enjoy Sunday!

Lynne said...

I love your sketches and photos.
Rick and your youngest grand is wonderful . . .
And of course . . . our Snickers . . .
Framed it will be . . .

gigi-hawaii said...

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.

Divers and Sundry said...

I 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.

Prims By The Water said...

What a fine watercolor of grandpa and grandson! Awesome job!!! Janice

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

jeanie,
I am always amazed at your artistic talents!! Great pictures too!!Thanks so much f or always stopping by!!
Hugs,
Deb

Anca said...

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.

Sami said...

The painting of Rick and his grandson is so cute, and so are the dog portraits.
Nice flowers in the vases.

Sandra at Maison De Jardin said...

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.
Have a great week!

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

you really captured the sweetness of Rick and his grandson - adorable!

Hena Tayeb said...

The watercolor is impressive even if the proportions were not correct. Cropping really did make it look even better.. Bravo!
It's been windy here.. meaning all the petals are flying off our trees.. almost no spring flowers left.

The French Hutch said...

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 :)

Jenny Woolf said...

I like the idea of using separate vases. Then you can put a bloom here and a bloom there, always a nice idea!

Jenny Woolf said...

I 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!

AWmom said...

My 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!

R's Rue said...

So beautiful. I ❤️ It

Marilyn Miller said...

Now 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?
Love your painting and it made me smile to see how you adjusted it to the paper size.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I would never have noticed Rick's foreshortened legs had you not mentioned it. I was still an absolutely adorable painting.

Loved 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.

Arti said...

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.

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

Wonderful 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

Anu said...

I love your paintings.

thepaintedapron.com said...

I 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!
Jenna

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...

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!

It has been so cold here recently but will warm up this week thank goodness. I am tired of being so cold!

handmade by amalia said...

I admire your talent, the painting is fantastic.
Amalia
xo

Anonymous said...

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

Nancy said...

Wow! You can paint too! You are amazing! Nice job my friend.
Enjoy the rest of your week.

Sandra Cox said...

I love the painting of Rick and the grand. It's wondrous.
And you've got a lilac among your flowers. Yay.

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

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.

Red Rose Alley said...

This 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.

~Sheri

Sandra Cox said...

Aren't those lamp posts exquisite?
Have a day filled with sunshine and soft breezes.

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

I love blooms displayed that way! I love that "holding on to Grampa" painting too!

shoreacres said...

Sometimes, "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!

R's Rue said...

How are you doing my friend

Vicki @ lifeinmyemptynest said...

You definitely picked the prettiest part of campus for your walk. I miss it so much!

Linda @ Life and Linda said...

Adorable painting of Rick and your Grandson. The magnolia is lovely. it's fun to take a walk and take in Mother nature. Happy Thursday.

Pam said...

ADORABLE 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.

Polly said...

Isn'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.

P-and-P said...

Lovely paintings and the photos are beautiful, too. :)

♡ ☯ ☮ P&P style ☮ ☯ ♡

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

Me again!! Just stopped by to thank you for your visit!! Stay safe, healthy and happy!!
Hugs,
Debbie

Joanne Huffman said...

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.

Sketchbook Wandering said...

Again 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.
Drawing people: I've always had the tendency to elongate...I like the way you "corrected" by cropping.
Have a great weekend, Jeanie!

Lowcarb team member said...

Your paintings are lovely especially the one with Rick and his grandson.

All the best Jan

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