Steps to a completed painting.

 I wanted to post this after my art class ended in May but I left my folder, which had the photos I based my painting on at my last class. My art teacher couldn't find it but kept looking for it over the summer and finally found it in August. Now I can share the steps I took to complete the painting I gave to my Dad for his 92nd birthday in May. I wanted to paint a scene from our summer vacation home in New Hampshire on Lake Winnipesaukee. I wanted to include Dad's beloved sail boat and a view of the lake. Rob and Carol sent some pictures of the lake and boat and I used them to create my painting.

The children sitting on the dock are my oldest sister Carol, my older brother Rob and me.

This is Dad's sail boat. The island you can see is Diamond island.

The first step was to draw a picture. I drew several versions before I finally traced it onto the canvas

I then transfered the picture onto canvas and started painting in acrylic paints. I started with the sky.

Next I worked on the lake.

Then I added the islands.

Here I am working on the dock.

I am working on the grass in the foreground and the kids.

I also worked on adding details to the sail boat.

I thought Carol's hair was more blond then it was and after Allan and I visited in June dad asked if I could change Carol's hair color to brown.

Here is the completed painting with the correct hair color hanging in my parents guest room.

New Fence for our side yard!

Our Fence is in desperate need of replacement. Our neighbor had already replaced one side of his fence and said the next three day weekend we could do the side between our two houses. Allan and our neighbor, Jesse spend labor day weekend replacing our side fence. 

I forgot to take a before picture, but the fence on this side was probably leaning 30 to 40 percent after Allan took off the support he had keeping it up.

We now have a beautiful fence on one side and hopefully we will be able to replace the other two sides in the near future!

Road trip Part 6 Zion's National Park and Las Vegas

On Friday the Rowlands drove up from Las Vegas to Zion's National Park and spent the day with us. 

We hiked up to the lower Emerald pool with them.

This is the same pregnant mule deer that Allan and I saw on our hike to lower Emerald pool the day before. It had given birth probably an hour before we got to the lower pool with the Rowlands. It was really cool to see this wonderful moment in nature. 

 We left Zion's that evening and drove to Las Vegas with the Rowlands. It is only about a 2 1/2 hour drive.

On Saturday we went bowling. 

 That afternoon we went swimming. The A/C in their condo went out Saturday morning so swimming was quite a relief from the heat.

 Aidan walking on water! :))

 Liam flying!

 On Monday we went to the Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. There are no shows here but you can watch the training they do with the dolphins.

 The white lions.

 A white tiger.

 Aidan and Liam

 Serendipity 3 ice cream shop

Liam....waiting.................for the ice cream to come.

 Allan and I ordered the Outrageous Banana split.

But we only ordered the cowards portion. It is had to imagine what the regular size looked like. 

 Kerri and Adam ordered the Forbidden Broadway Sunday 16.

Aidan and Liam helped eat both of them.

 Another afternoon in the pool. 

Aidan and Liam LOVE going to the pool.

 Aidan is a great big brother!