Then and Now

Thought I'd add another painting that I've recently done. This is an oil painting on canvas that I made. (Very fun to make my own canvas!). This painting is of me and 3 of my brothers when we were 1,2,3 and 4! Now that's a handful. I actually remember the day this was taken. My dear aunt was watching up and she scrubbed us all up and put our p.j.'s on and took the picture. We always had fun with my aunt. Then I decided to paint what we look like today. It was kind of fun to see the differences, and sad too. I think year 24 was my best! :)

This painting is 4 feet by 3 feet.

Putting the Pieces together

What to do with my pieces of stained glass?? I know, I'll make a mosaic piece. Not just any piece. A coffee table. yeah, that's it. Hours and hours later....taa dahhh! My mosaic coffee table!

Hope you enjoy it. I had a great time working on it. My back, however, not so much!

I love the colors that are in this. I used black grout which really made the colors pop that much more. This is a very heavy duty solid wood piece of furniture.

The painting I wanted to talk about today is an oil painting 2 ½’ x 3’. It is of my brother in law who is currently serving in the military and made two tours so far in Iraq. He is a very patriotic guy and loves his country. I wanted to do a special painting for him to show him that I appreciate all that he and his family has sacrificed for me. He really is a special. What he did in Iraq inspired the meaning behind this painting. He received the bronze star this last time there. When I asked what he did to receive it, all he has ever said was it was for a particularly loud day.
Of course being in the military, they have to wear “who yah” clothes over there to protect themselves. I saw a picture of him with this uniform on and wanted to use it in a painting. The children that are placed around him are not necessarily the children of Iraq although that is what it may appear to be. I meant it more as children of the world though. He loves kids. He is fighting for the freedoms of these children. I wanted it to represent more of what these kids will hope to have as a future because people like my brother in law have gone and do go over to Iraq and other places as well to fight for freedom.
My brother in law is proud of this country and I wanted to show him I was proud of him.
The green colors were used mostly because it went with his uniform, but if you want to get real artsy, I guess it could be for the growing and living feeling that green gives us.
I am not particularly deep, so that’s about as good as it gets!
I do know I love the guy and all he does for our country.