Landscape Painting

When my youngest was a baby, he was the happiest little guy!  For fear of embarrassing him, I won't tell you his main nickname (my children have numerous ones).  It's quite adorable and he earned it quite quickly after his personality came through.  Even though he was obviously cheerful, I didn't really notice how goofy he was until years later.  For some reason, I was noticing that he was making goofy faces - you know, that kid that always messes up the family photo, a.k.a. Calvin, from Calvin and Hobbes - that's my son.  When I realized it, I started looking back on all the photographs I'd taken over the years.  He was just that way.  He is personality plus.  So easy to get along with, yet a real pain in the backside at times.  lol

Bob Ross, you may have heard of him, was a pretty popular painter.  He's my son's favorite artist.  Since we homeschool, he has a front row seat via YouTube, to watch him and learn his techniques.  The Bob Ross paints and brushes were a must, so he has some of them.  Enough to get started anyway.  He has run out of white since this painting.  Canvases aren't cheap.  He goes through them so fast.  It doesn't take long to make a landscape.  Multiply that times days in a week.  I'm just sayin.

I grabbed my camera as soon as I heard that he was going to paint outside that day.  I hate to miss an opportunity to get good images.  Of course, he didn't get off that easily, I made him change into something presentable.  That's the kind of mom I am.  Well, not all the time.  As my middle child pointed out recently, the youngest dresses in a three-piece suit for church complete with pocket watch and fedora, but he wears worn out tees and sweats with holes in the knees when we go shopping.  Go figure.

For this painting, I even did a Facebook Live video.  Of course, he was a little stubborn when answering questions, because why would he be sweet when I'm recording him live?  Kids.  

Our back patio has a lovely pergola over it, but at that time of day, the slots cast some pretty heavy shadows.  That was challenging.  Here's a photography tip for you: move.  My poor son kept having to wait for me to rearrange the paint table, scoot bikes, adjust the easel till it all came together to get the best images possible.  Fortunately, it all worked out.  

He asked his Nana for a suggestion before he started.  The color green.  And the idea was born.  My only regret about this shoot was that after he'd created almost the entire thing, he sat down on a step stool for a bit and pondered.  I didn't realize he was thinking of what to add to it.  I wish I would have photographed that thoughtful look as he sat.  It was fleeting...he jumped up, grabbed his brush, and began again.  New trees grew onto the painting.

It's his first year with this.  I'm always partial to my kids creative genius, but as moms, aren't we all?  Let me know what you like to watch and learn on YouTube in the comments.  Or, be kind and give my son a shout out about his art.

Blessings,

Zoe

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