Finger-painting Fun

Something we noticed right away about Blaizen is that he Really likes to get his hands (and feet, and head, and...) into things, especially food. We've been working really hard on him eating with a spoon/fork and not shoveling it in with his hands because it's faster and easier. And at the same time working on Not playing in your food. But I'm definitely seeing a need for him to have things to get his hands into. We've had play-dough available all along and lately I've been gathering more items for some "sensory" play.

Today we got out finger-paints and noodles :) Brannon has always disliked getting his hands sticky/dirty/ yucky. He was never interested in finger-painting or mixing dough with his hands or anything like that. I was not surprised that he declined Blaizen's cheerful invitation to join in the finger-painting with a huge shudder. I grabbed some brushes and set them out and when Blaizen continued to invite Brannon to join him he started out like this...

 Imagine my astonishment when Brannon first stuck his fingertip in the paint and dabbed it on the paper a few times, then moved on to this:

 Followed by this!!

 They had a great time feeling each other's slimy hands

 Oh, those squelching noises are So funny!

 Too much fun:) I'm excited to try a recipe for homemade finger-paints for next time.

Anticipation! And Some Artwork...

I'm busy getting ready for a weekend trip to the coast, Yay!! Our Thursday night Bible study group is going together. One of the families that comes owns a beach house and offered it for our mutual use. A few of us who pray together a couple times a week have been really aching to "get away" for a few days together with our families, outside of our usual daily routine, and just Listen together. So, Yay!! :-) Not to mention I've been longing to go the the beach, winter or no! I'M SO EXCITED!!!!

So, lots of laundry and cooking to do. Gotta make gluten free bread, and gluten free cookies and hummus and tuna salad and... You know, the usual. I can't ever rely on communal food stocks when we take a trip with a crowd. I now REALLY appreciate it when I don't have to cook all our own food for a community dinner.

Anyway, tomorrow is going to be crazy with all the cleaning and packing we will be doing. Fortunately I have two big, smart little boys who can do a large share of their own packing now- a-days :D Hurray for me:)

Hopefully in a few days you will be "treated" ;-) to beach house pics

In the meantime, here are my three latest painting/collages. Note that flash photography does not nearly do them justice...

This one is acrylic paint, my own photographs, and quotes from "The Ecstasy of Loving God" by John Crowder, and song lyrics from The David Crowder Band, oh, and the clipart earths:

*Sigh* I wish you could see it in person, it's really neat;-) Nate said it was my best one yet:) I think I'm finally finding my groove and getting into what I like to create. This whole painting thing still surprises me. I never painted as a kid or young adult. I did do several collages though.

Acrylic paint and paper mache (of a sort). I love the colors on this in person--green and white and yellow and almost-unexpected splashes of metallic bronze. Nate loves the texture. I almost don't want to post these sad-in-comparison-to-the-real-thing pics...

And the very latest: Paper mache, paper, acrylic paint... On Christmas evening I couldn't get my mind off the blood of Jesus. His incredible sacrifice and all it means for us, more than I think we yet imagine. So I took my paper mache background I had made on a canvas a few weeks ago and painted it red. Then I added the cross. I was still filled with the image of Jesus' blood so I made the red drips coming off the cross (wish you could see it better!)

The next day I painted the red on the bottom and the gold drips coming from heaven. Later in the night I did drips of glue (which you can't really see, being clear) off one side of the cross representing the water that came from Jesus' side. I'm going to call it "Heaven's Flood" I think.

You can also see my wonderful tabletop easel my dear Hubby got me for Christmas, liberally baptized in red and gold splatters and glue:D

"See" you after the weekend :)

s

A Couple Paintings

I think it was Linda who asked to see some artwork? Now that I have my computer back (Yay!) I thought I'd post a couple of pics. These are both paintings my mom has :) I actually need to track down a couple others and get pictures of them so I remember them, lol

An angel I did for a housewarming gift for my parents when they had to move... She's textured with a mixture of gesso and acrylic gel medium.
Another painting I did for my mom. This photo isn't so great but... There some collage/decoupage elements, some paint, texturing and some gel pen :)

Camping Again

For another mountain bike race :) In Sisters, it's supposed to be raining (only Friday hopefully)---wish us dry!! :D I've been cooking since 7 am. I don't think I'm going to get everything done I had planned. I should have gotten started yesterday. But, I painted instead. I needed it, needed to release the creativity, needed the intercession (painting equals praying for me). It was worth the rush today.

Back to work! ;)

My Little Artist...