A question for you regarding Andrew Wyeth. . .

So yesterday I was out and about with Connor (18) and he took a quick peek into the current issue of MAD magazine while we were waiting to check out of the grocery.  He laughs at a political cartoon of Chris Christie saying, "Isn't this funny? - it is referencing Christina's World."  He saw my confused face and said - "You do know about Christina's World don't you?" and quickly googles a picture of it.  When I saw the artist was Andrew Wyeth I said, "Oh, he's the guy who painted lots and lots of portraits of the neighbor lady and nobody knew anything about it." (See Helga Pictures)  At that point it was Connor's turn to look confused.

The big scandal regarding the 247 Helga paintings hit when I was not much older than Connor is now and is the immediate reference my brain goes to when it hears the name Andrew Wyeth.  I knew that he had a history as a painter but I was a kid and we didn't have Google then so Helga is the only reference I have for him.  Connor says that my not knowing about Christina's World is on the same level as if someone didn't know about American Gothic.  So tell me - is it true that I've been living under a rock??  It's okay - I can take it. . .

BTW - this girl is for the Summer of Color Challenge 3 (two purples and one yellow),

Linking to Paint Party Friday,

Art It Friday - Show your Face, and

Art Journal Every Day

working on my own grass

Our oldest graduates from high school a week from today - where did the time go??  I'm not going to say it seems like yesterday that we brought him home but I will admit that the years have certainly gone more quickly than I expected.  In the meantime, I'm in a frenzy of activity to prepare for family arriving and graduation parties to commence. 

This girl looks calm and contented and that's what I am going to aim for during this busy time. 

Linking to Paint Party Friday,

Art It Friday - Show Your Face, and

Art Journal Every Day

Rebecca Lopez

ME - "How would you describe this girl?"

CONNOR (17) - "A white lady with a fiery Latin temper." 

ME (confused) - "Okay - what would you name her then?"

CONNOR (matter of factly) - "Rebecca Lopez"

LOL - That kid cracks me up every time - love the honesty that your children give you! 

Check out all the fun with 29 Faces!

A Cheshire Farewell. . .

 

"the return makes one love the farewell" - Alfred de Musset

The Illustration Friday topic this week is FAREWELL.  After ciphering a bit about how to portray that idea without sketching a person waving, I remembered the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland.  He would fade away until nothing was visible but his big smiling mouth. 

I was able to recreate that idea with a layer of vellum on top of a brightly colored girl - cutting out the mouth area allowed her face to be hazy while her lips remained vibrant!

 

Connor calls this girl Watermelon Head. . . 

Linking to Play Date Cafe Challenge,

Paper Saturdays,

Show and Tell Saturday,

Sunday Sketches,

Creative Every Day

AEDM (Day 18) - Stencil girl

I asked Connor what words he'd use to describe this girl and he said, "Confused. . .thinking. . . staring. . . ambivalence"

I was just thinking about how she had a really long thin nose and rather sad eyes - cute hair though. . .

The background was fun - a few random stencils and Inkadinkado spray ink (I still had some purple on my fingers this morning - strong stuff!)

Check out all the creativity on Art Every Day Month

Linked to Artists in Blogland

Illustration Friday: FREEZE

This week's Illustration Friday theme is FREEZE.  I can't do cold in the middle of summer so I took advantage of a freeze frame moment I experienced when looking out the window and seeing Connor mowing the yard.  One of the many things I love about this challenge is that it is open to any interpretation.  

This is my first post in a week - things have been crazy around here.  The boys started school on Wednesday so the first of the week was centered around prep for that.  After successfully navigating their first day then things went downhill.  The internet went out and our hot water heater went kaput!  While hot water was first on my/Corey's list of important things both the boys were more upset about the lack of internet.  Today both issues were finally rectified - that means we can be both clean and have our internet needs satiated!!

This pic is of Connor actually mowing the lawn.  The perspectives are pretty wacky in my sketch  - I drew the mower way too small and Connor looks kinda short while in reality he is only 1/2" shy of 6'. 

Linking to Paint Party Friday

Art Journal Every Da

Second Floor Challenge #4 - Circles

Time for another Second Floor Challenge - this one has the theme of Circles!  While this canvas is definitely not one of my favorites, I am bound and determined to do all of the Second Floor Challenges so you will just have to deal with my Kandinsky knock-off.

Do you like it any better when you see it from far away?  Me either. . .
Did you know that Wassily Kandinsky is credited with being the first to do a truly abstract piece of art? Colour Studies:  Squares and Concentric Circles is likely his most recognizable piece.

Connor made his own version in art class several years back and his is definitely more true to the Kandinsky look.  Mine looks more like, "Gobstoppers broken in half" - according to Caleb.  10 year-olds are brutal art critics!