Monday, May 03, 2010

A Portrait of the Artists as Spring Blooms

As you can see, it can now be difficult catching a "still" when Ben is working. Note the blur of his right hand. We are all seeing a butterfly emerge in the orange paint from this view point.

The artist takes a moment to study his subject matter...also to taste the paint and make sure it's ready for application. I've mentioned this before but Ben has a tendency to lean his head to the right when he is concentrating. He is actually in this position watching TV as I'm typing this. This is one of the reasons we always turn his work at 90 degree angles to find what he is painting. To us it's a peculiar way to look at the world - in fact it can be down right uncomfortable for us to watch but to Ben it is quite normal.

One new thing Ben has figured out is how to mix and blend colors.

Jessie's Easter outfit. She picked it out with very little help from Mom. Something about this picture disturbs me...

Easter lunch with her cousins Chandler and Graham. Since Christmas, Graham has insisted that photos capture his "inner gangsta." Uncle Bennie keeps insisting he has too much mop top to be hip hop.

Jessie & BFF Olivia prove that white girls can jump...into a pool mid-April...

...which results into a scream still hovering somewhere near the ozone layer. Ever hear two young teenage girls scream? Dogs from two neighborhoods away are still barking.

Jessie and her BDFF (best dance friends forever), twin sisters Marissa and Cecily, about to hit the stage for one of their month-long competitions. It's funny how many "daughters" I now have. Evidently the stuff I do that embarrasses the heck out of Jessie makes me a cool dad in her friends' eyes. Joan says it's because the other dads wouldn't act like an idiot in front of just anybody.


And all this activity can exhaust two beautiful angels.

4 comments:

Vodka Mom said...

that just made me smile.

Kyla said...

Glad to see what you guys have been up to!! Can't believe how grown up Jessie is looking! Graham looks like he's channeling his inner Bieber...not too gangsta. LOL.

Creative-Type Dad said...

OK, I was going to say Bieber too, but Kyla beat me to it...

Anonymous said...

Your family is remarkable. I dont even know how I found your story today but I want you to know that your obvious adoration and determination for your family touches me deeply.

Have a wonderful weekend!