Painting

I had so much fun at the paint night at my friend Helene's art gallery, that I decided to repeat the project at home with the boys.

And by a happy coincidence, the craft store was having a sale on canvases, so I bought a pack of eight.

Helene had given us a very particular set of steps--from which we were allowed to deviate at will--which gave us the opportunity to try a variety of art techniques, play with color, and work with perspective.

As it turned out, E and Z weren't much interested in following directions (not an isolated incident) and ended up making their own paintings.

But M got really, really into the project, and was particular about following the directions.

He kept at it long after the rest of us moved on to other things (pointing a fan on his picture between layers to avoid the smeared paint the rest of us put up with). I love his results.

I joined in and painted along. I think I could go on recreating this same painting forever. M wants to paint again this weekend...I'll have to come up with another set of instructions.

With the finished artwork, I refreshed the wall in the living room, where our last painting projects had hung.