Say Cheese! - #1

[TamaraB]

My husband asked me to paint a pic of the kids for his step-mom. I sat the kids down last week and TRIED to get a nice pic of them smiling - just a pic to practice with. I wasn't asking for much. I kept saying, "Say Cheese!" and the 8 pictures that resulted from my attempts to get a nice picture of them are hilarious. I decided to paint my favorites from these pics and hang them on my own wall. I wanted to keep the colors and style light and fun.

I'll get a pic for my husband's step-mom another time - who knows, she might want one of these...

Backstory: My daughter was angry because I made her sit in timeout about 10 minutes before we took the pics. The baby is screaming because he wants to sit in his swing (which they are actually sitting next to - that's what he's looking at). And yes...the baby was screaming with a pacifier in his mouth! I attempted to paint him without it, but he looked possessed without it! He was really angry. My 2yr old (the one in the middle) is about to stuff a baby wipe in his mouth. We have to hide them because he likes to suck on them for some strange reason - they don't taste good!!! And this is the only pic that Jay (my oldest) is not making a goofy face.

I'm going to post the paintings as I work on them. This is the 1st - not quite done, but almost there...

[CarolBe]

This looks so good! It's coming together so nicely. Can't wait to see more.

[mollerman]

This is looking very good Tam! What a wonderful... I am sure a bit frustrating for you... story!

[Pat Isaac]

These are going to be great and if you get them all nice and smiling, it may be a miracle....Looking forward to the progress.

Pat

[reeta]

Looking great Tam! Once again you have a wonderful ability to capture a moment in time with your portraits. Lovely work. ( Oh, and btw... you have time to paint, WHEN??? lol)

Ree

[reeta]

Hi again Tam,
I don't usually comment twice on the same painting but I just went back and looked at your painting again, and just wanted to comment on how amazing it is that in each child you really captured the essence of who they are. I think that that is difficult enough to do with ONE portrait, and you have captured each child perfectly. Anyone who is a parent knows exactly those expressions/that moment in time you have captured in EACH of the kids. Its really going to be an amazing family portrait. I can't wait to see the finish.

Ree

[halthepainter]

Tam, you're doing a fantastic job.

[TamaraB]

Thanks everyone!

Carol, your a brave soul painting the sub under water! Good luck and it's looking good so far. I'm a chicken, I stay well away from the water scenes for now.

Marcus, It WAS frustrating. I laughed once I saw the pics, but during our "photo shoot", I kept yelling, "Say Cheese!!" and "Don't eat the baby wipe!!"

and Pat, you're right, what was I thinking asking a group of kids in the age range of 1 - 10 to sit nicely and smile...

Ree, this is why I LOVE pics of kids. They hold nothing back. And I don't mind sketching them with goofy or funny expressions - that's just kids being kids - and I think it shows their personalities. And when do I get time? Usually late evening after I get home from work, straighten up a bit, and make sure everyone has dinner. I am usually holding Tristan or Aaron too. I rarely have both of my hands free. Or they are playing around my feet while I'm painting. And then once they go to bed, I will sit up for a while and paint.

Thanks Hal!!

I'm going to try to work on it some more tonight, I'll post an update as soon as I'm able...

ttyl

[stee71]

Tam, this is sooo good, I balk at the thought of one portrait and here you are happily tackling four in one go. I take off my hat to you

[fishfan]

This is wonderful, Tam. Did you say how large you're working? You're beginning to give me the courage to give a shot on a reference photo I took about twenty-five years ago....five absolutely adorable kids on a rickety porch in Belize. This crew is pretty darn cute also...I look forward to your progress.

[TamaraB]

Thanks Steve and Ed. Go for it Ed! Sounds like an awesome picture that you have. This is my 1st time drawing more than 2 subjects in one painting. I was nervous at first because I usually do lifesize or bigger. Although I'm still using 22x30 paper, I had to make the subjects smaller than usual, which was new for me. However, once I started working on it, I began to feel much better about it.

So here's the latest. I always save hands for last because they drive me crazy - I'm still working on them here. Also, I'm not sure what I want to do with the background yet. I want to keep it light and airy - so that the kids are the focal point only. I think that I might start on the next one while I think about my background.

I'm having surgery this week, so I might be MIA for a short while...Have a great rest of the week everyone!

[TamaraB]

oh - I also would like to add a quick note to say: Jay is NOT choking the baby! rofl

Aaron (the baby) just kept squirming and he was struggling to get out of Jay's arms to get back to that dang swing. Jay just barely had a hold on him.

[VickiB]

Tam first of all good luck with your surgery. Best wishes.

Secondly, I just love this painting of your family. It is a hard thing to pull off a family portrait let alone a painting like you have with so many different expressions and emotions. Just love seeing all of their individual personalities, and it really does appear that you know them all so well. Brilliant. I love it already.

[talinka]

Hi Tam- great drawing. I love that you captured the personality of each child, and the composition. I also enjoyed the story!

[Flycatcher10]

Hi Tam: This is wonderful. I love the feel to your portraits. It's great to see your children and each with their own mindset (funny backstory - those cute little devils!).

I can't wait to see the final painting. It's awesome to watch you work your magic. Nice work!