FAMILY PAINTING AFTERNOON

YESTERDAY, I HAD A LOVELY TIME PAINTING ALL AFTERNOON WITH TERRY AND OUR DAUGHTER, EMILY.

I USUALLY GET TO PAINT WITH A LOT OF FAMILY MEMBERS WHEN I GO HOME IN MAY (MUM, DAD, SISTERS MARY AND PAULA, AND EVEN OUR NEICE) BUT WHEN COVID CANCELLED ALL TRAVEL PLANS THAT WAS ANOTHER SMALL EVENT THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN.

EMILY DECIDED SHE WANTS TO DO AN OIL PAINTING FOR HER PARTNER’S MOTHER FOR CHRISTMAS SO SHE ASKED IF SHE COULD PAINT WITH US AND I WAS THRILLED AS I HAVE BEEN UNMOTIVATED TO PAINT WITH THIS HIGH PAIN LEVEL I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING. (STILL WORKING ON THAT.)

BUT THE IDEA OF PAINTING TOGETHER ON A COLD, DARK AUTUMN DAY JUST BROUGHT THE LIGHT BACK INTO THE HOUSE AND WE ARE BLESSED TO ACTUALLY HAVE AN ART STUDIO WITH ENOUGH ROOM FOR ALL OF US TO FIT COMFORTABLY TOO.

I PUT A LOG IN THE WOOD BURNING FIREPLACE, GOT EM SET UP AT THE WINDOW, AND TERRY AND I PAINTED AT OUR EASLES. TERRY’S PAINTING WILL TAKE A YEAR AT LEAST AS HE HAS CHOSEN THE MOST DETAILED,LARGE PAINTING AND HE DOESN’T OFTEN FEEL LIKE PAINTING…HA HA.

EMILY WORKED ALL AFTERNOON ON HER DRAWING OF MOUNTAIN ASH BERRY BRANCHES AND I KNOW IT WILL BE GORGEOUS WHEN SHE COMPLETES IT.

I AM ACTUALLY WORKING ON A FAIRLY LARGE CANVAS OF AN IMAGE OF….EMILY! IT WAS A PHOTO I TOOK OF HER YEARS AGO. SHE IS WEARING A DRESS THAT I WORE IN A HIGH SCHOOL PLAY (MISS JULIE) AND I THOUGHT I WOULD DO AN OIL PAINTING OF ‘WOMAN READING’.

IN ACTUALITY ,I WILL BE WORKING WITH ACRYLIC PAINT AND I WAS QUITE SPEEDY WITH THE GRIDS I MADE AND THE FINISHED ‘UNDERPAINTING’.

NOW I HAVE SEVERAL MORE FAMILY PAINTING DAYS TO LOOK FORWARD TO DURING THIS UPCOMING, LONG WINTER. THIS WILL BE A CHALLENGING TIME FOR THIS ‘SNOWBIRD’ BUT I’M ALREADY LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR NEXT PAINTING DATE.

FIREPLACE PREPARED. MUSIC READY. TEA ON. LET’S PAINT!