Ask Me About My Grandson

I absolutely love being a Grandma!

My grandson, Haeden, is by far the cutest :)

I knew that one of these days I would be painting his portrait. Jayme, Haeden's Mom, sent me this photo of him smiling as he was on the swing at a park in Oregon. I like the play of light on his face, hat, and jacket and decided this photo would make a great watercolor painting.

Upon completion, I immediately matted and framed the painting.

Haeden's portrait now hangs in my living room where I get to see his smiling face on a daily basis.

Ask Me About My Grandson
Joanne Osband
watercolor

Addendum to the Mystery Person

Recently I blogged about the mysterious person who creates rock sculptures on the mile sign posts on the Chehalis Western Trail in Olympia, Washington.

Having returned from a skiing trip to Whistler, British Columbia, Ebony and I are back walking the Trail. I found two new rock sculptures by our artist. Both of which are worthy of distinction.

The first one includes EIGHT rocks and I believe to be the most elaborate of those created.


The second rock sculpture has a nice clean balance and look to it.


I will continue my surveillance of the Trail for the artist.
Stay tuned.......

Picture Worth a Thousand Words

Wonder where that comment originated? Do you know?

It is so true in respect to this photograph taken at Whistler, British Columbia on this awesome sunny day. I would not know how to describe the incredible vistas nor the phenomenal skiing. I skied five days and spent the time with my good friend, Elaine, and my son, Brian.


Another thousand words later.....





Brian on top of the world

Portrait Continues

Trying to get packed for a ski trip to Whistler, British Columbia, I managed to find a little time to continue the watercolor portrait painting of my darling grandson.

I feel like I am visiting with him when I paint and study his face. Friday, I actually get to spend a little time with him before I leave to ski. It will be another week before I return to the painting and get to see my grandson again.

Here is the progress....



I think I got the dimple and the eyes are getting closer to looking like his. I need to soften the highlights.

Until next time.....

Another Great Idea

A new blog to follow.....

Sketchers from around the world will be sharing their art on postcards.

The project has grown out of the Sketchercise group which was founded by Katherine Tyrrell.
Sketchercise is a group of people who enjoy sketching from life, have already developed the sketching habit, and have found ways of exercising with a sketchbook.

The idea of A Postcard From My Walk is that once a month an artist will mail a sketch done on one of their outings to one of the group of Sketchercise members who are participating in the project. That way they get to see the real sketch rather than just the image on the Internet.

The blog will record a monthly postal exchange of sketches on postcards between the 14 members of Sketchercise over the course of one year.

What a fun idea. Since I love to travel, I look forward to seeing the sketches from around the world.

Here is one of my sketches when I was traveling in Greece.

Kastraki Joanne Osband
watercolor & ink
September 2010

Mystery Person on the Trail

I have mentioned that Ebony and I are regular travelers on the Chehalis Western Trail in Olympia, Washington. In fact, I have made several good friends this way.

One interesting occurrence that I have notice ever since the new wooden mile post were put in place, is that some person enjoys creating rock sculptures on top of the posts. Now these are not the simple artistic stack of three rocks. These have been elaborate balancing acts.

Here is one for example:

Notice the intricacies of balance. This is a great art!

These other two I found today are artistically done, but do not have the grace of the first. What do you think?



Someday, I hope to meet up with the mystery rock artist.

Not A Portrait Painter

I have never considered myself a portrait painter, but every now and then I like the challenge of painting a portrait in watercolors.

Need I say my grandson is very cute?!

I have finally found a photograph of him that intrigues my "challenge quotient" and I find totally adorable. He is wearing his knit hat and donning his heart melting smile.

What I have learned so far is that I enjoy drawing; finding those shapes that define form. I began this watercolor painting with the base color of his skin. Waiting for the paint to dry before I continue.

I feel as if I am spending time with my grandson studying his features.

The first phase of the watercolor painting.....