children in art – BOHLENDER ART

“EYES ON THE PIES”

Posted on February 20, 2023 by Bohlender Art in art, children, children, dogs, family life, fine art, Grandchildren, joy, oil paiinting, oil portrait, Portrait, oil painting

The joys in life pile up daily, yet some spark love like lightning bolts.

When we went to visit the grandboys, I was able to bring a couple jars of my homemade apple pie filling. It sure made it easier to make the pies, and faster. I had pre-ground my flours for the crust as well, so all I had to do was add butter and water, mix and roll. I love my pie crust. So do the boys. I love those boys.

They were very interested in how to make an apple pie, and after this moment of filling, were happy to help spoon the apples into the crusts. And they sure do focus and take it all in. I hope I give them a good example of things.

My daughter took some photos of this time, and I based my painting from her photos. She has loving eyes.

“EYES ON THE PIES” – 22″x 28″ – Oil – ©2023 Bohlender

We all had great fun EATING the pies.

It was fun, too, that during that moment, their dog Onyx walked by in the background. I had to include Onyx. He has been in the family a long time. He’s a good boy, but he didn’t get any pie.

My greatest challenge in this piece was identifying the camera distortions in the resource photo, thereby straightening entryways and one of the boy’s heads was stretched and his body leaning too far, like he fell off the edge or something. I simplified a lot of things, and maximized the duo light source. The canvas used to have a desert landscape painted on it, and I left some of the nubbies from the mesquite scrub for interesting effects.

There might be a thing or two that might spring out at me that I will make minor adjustments to, but for now, I like this one as it is.

I just ordered more oil paint from Dick Blick’s. I’ve been shopping there for many years. Getting new paint is almost as good as apple pie.

Praise the Lord Jesus for His grace and love of mankind.

THE GUIDING HAND

Posted on January 3, 2023 by Bohlender Art in art, children, fine art, Grace, Grandchildren, grapevines, miracles, Oil painting, oil portrait, Uncategorized

Grandpa tried throughout the summer to start a new little grapevine for Nio from his Concord grape vine. He thought about the sweet purple taste of the grape and how Nio would like it. He thought about sharing some things that he enjoyed very much with his grandson – gardening, sunshine, eating grapes off the vine.

All of his efforts failed, all his little cuttings died – except this one.

It was time to go visit and his grapevine was still very small and vulnerable. Well, he promised a grapevine to Nio (and you never break your promise to a child). He had to bring it.

Those fellows dug and dug out there in the backyard dirt, in a space where dad’s lawnmower would not be impeded. In fact, they had so much fun digging, they first dug a big hole – knee deep on Nio, and filled it with water. There is much fun playing in mud and holes.

Grandpa loves his grandboys.

Then they got down to business just a little ways from the hole they filled back in, so little brother wouldn’t fall in head first. Little brother also likes to tap a little bit firmly or pull things out of holes, and Nio was quite careful to protect his grapevine.

One may plant, one may water, but it is God who gives the increase… and miracles.

The Gift of a Crayon

Posted on August 10, 2022 by Bohlender Art in art, children, crayons, gifts from children, sketching

My grandson sent me a brown crayon.

It is one of the most precious gifts I have ever been given. Those little hearts and hands share so richly…. especially a “slightly” used crayon.

He is an artist in his own right, and I wanted to share the value of a gift and a brown crayon.

My husband sharpened it a little bit for me, and I set up shop. I had to work very quickly before the sun came up, so my light source wouldn’t change much, quickly sketching for reference, then crayon.

I made a print out of this process, talking about the lights and darks of things. I hope I made his day as happy as he made mine.

A lot can happen with a brown crayon.

While I was working, I was thinking of the song, “Your steadfast love, oh Lord, never ceases, Your mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning, new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness, O God, Great is Your faithfulness.”

It’s true.

Loving Mario

Posted on February 26, 2022 by Bohlender Art in art, children, Christian art, family life, fine art, Grandchildren, joy, mother and child, nursing, oil paiinting, oil portrait

There is no greater Gift from God than being given a child. We are entrusted by God to raise them to Him. It is the most important job in the world, and we are never more tired, even exhausted, yet it is a treasured and joy-filled time of life.

Nursing our children provides a time of closeness and mutual nurturing, nothing is sweeter. The time is peaceful and calm, a love-bubble for the two of you. Not to mention the mother’s milk is full of healthy things for the baby, guaranteeing immunities and lots of good things.

And there is nothing sweeter still than seeing your daughter’s joy as she loves beyond the deepest exhaustion, fulfilled in motherhood. Her child is happy and beautiful. She gives her life to her children fully and without reservation. I love seeing her with her boys.

“Loving Mario” – 20″x 20″ – Oil ©2022 Bohlender

I suppose this is the last of works from our last visit. This is the fifth piece, extending my time with them some. Mario has already grown, and is doing amazing things. He’s a happy boy, gregarious and jolly. I look forward to when I may see them all again. God is good, He knows all things in our hearts.

My next painting is already forming, my husband feeding the raven out front when it snowed the other day. Our raven friend Jack is rather spoiled at times.

Mario & Grandma

Posted on February 10, 2022 by Bohlender Art in art, children, children, Christian art, family life, fine art, Grandchildren, joy, oil paiinting, Oil painting, oil portrait, Portrait, oil painting, Uncategorized

He’s the star of the show, and the sparkle in my eye. Mario is full of zesty life and I was honored that he felt comfortable with me. I would love to see him more, but that isn’t always doable these days. We were in a park, but the trees did not seem as significant as the feeling of shade nearby and we in the sunshine together.

“Mario & Grandma” – 28″ x 22″ – Oil ©Bohlender 2022

It wasn’t hard to make him the focus, the subject. He is that in real life also. Over flowing joy.

I take comfort in knowing that God has raised up children for this time in history, that He will take care of them, and all things work out according to His Purpose and Timing. No one is a mistake, our times are in His hand.

Mario and Mama

Posted on January 28, 2022 by Bohlender Art in art, children, children, family life, fine art, Grandchildren, joy, Oil painting, Portrait, oil painting

There’s not too much as wonderful as holding your baby, and feeling him melt into you in absolute trust and love. The joy of motherhood is beyond describing.

“Mario and Mama” – 12″ x 16″ – Oil ©2022

I think the next greater joy is watching your daughter loving being a mama, and loving her boys.

This was a happy painting to paint, it painted itself, and I loved being involved with it.

The color of the photo is a little off for some reason, the outside border is more golden, less green. I’ll retake photos another day.

Grandpa and the Boys

Posted on January 18, 2022January 28, 2022 by Bohlender Art in art, children, children, family life, fine art, Grandchildren, Grandfather, Oil painting, oil portrait, Uncategorized

There is something wonderful about the sparkle of love, and the joy that carries through a good wrestling match with grandpa.

Grandpa needs as many naps as the little fellow, but he comes out full of fun and vigor, the winner of the match undeclared. I think they all won this time.

Although it isn’t a Rembrandt, I really like the joy of a moment captured, that maybe will be appreciated by the boys after we are gone, a remembrance of their grandfather.

Meanwhile, we await the Lord’s return, and love what He has given us until He comes.

At The Goosey Park

Posted on December 26, 2021December 27, 2021 by Bohlender Art in art, children, children, fine art, friendship, Geese, Oil painting

The delightfulness of having a friend you might grow up with, at least so far in their lives, is a treasure many of us don’t have. The children in this painting have known each other since babes, and they experience the loves and challenges of friendship often. Their mothers are good friends, often taking their breathing space at one of several parks where their children can run and play.

One of the parks is near a museum, the grounds are well kept and pleasant. A stream runs through it, and geese stay there year round, accustomed to big and little people. Whenever I am there, it is full of geese, and children.

“At the Goosey Park” – 24″ x 18″ – Oil ©2021

Below are the two earlier paintings of the same children. The beagle doggy has died, the bulldog is getting old and grey, but still smiles when he goes for a walk. I love seeing how these two children grew, how they are as lovely little people. I hope that I am able to keep painting them for more years to come.

The process of painting went from covering a used canvas with a white wash, into the new painting at the park, as shown below.

Watercolor Happiness

Posted on June 5, 2021 by Bohlender Art in carnival rides, children, poppies, watercolor painting

I’ve been working a little bit in watercolor again lately, getting used to the medium again. Some of my tubes dried out completely, so I cut off the tubes, placed the pigments in small jars in water, and like it well this way, seeing the color as it is, going from washes at the top to solids at the bottom of the jar.

What first inspired me was the poppies blooming this spring, that color of red was so wonderful. I was seeing that color in my thoughts, and on a Windsor and Newton color ad, and I had a tube of Daniel Smith organic vermillion that needed rejuvenation. And watching the Sennelier videos (Yves-Marie Salanson), got me going. Ouuu the poppies. I might do an oil next spring, when the poppies bloom again.

Poppies wilt quickly, and drop petals, I started from life, but took a photo to finish from.

Then after I was sent a photo taken at a carnival through the fences, with things covering the subject matter and all kinds of things going on, I loved the expressions on their faces. What daddy would not be so very proud and pleased with the earnest efforts of a brave, responsible young driver. I couldn’t see the front of the truck, so I made that part out of other images of antique cars, and wanted simplicity, so eventually, I only drew the people and the car, and added the balloons.

I think I shortened the car just a little, but proportionally it still works ok, maybe even added a little charm. Sometimes our shortcomings in art improve our work 🙂 .

I hope soon to be able to take a ride in this little fellow’s carnival truck. What a fine boy he is.

So, in my ongoing quest to use art supplies on hand, I have plenty of watercolor papers. I have always loved D’Arches 300# cold press (poppies), and the carnival ride is painted on a lighter weight, but I like it.

Joy Bucket

Posted on April 9, 2021 by Bohlender Art in art, children, Grandchildren, joy, Oil painting, oil portrait, Portrait, oil painting

In times when we cannot see each other, I am especially grateful for skyping and messengering. Praise God for a daughter so willing to visit, especially when she is so busy.

When she was a baby and young girl, I called her my “joy bucket”, because truly, joy emanated from her being. I found that same quality in her son.

During one of our skype visits, I took a photo of the screen, not the best photo quality, but enough to work from. Until I can see him, it’s the best personal resource I have to work from.

I only posted a portion of the image, protecting their privacy, but it gives you an idea of a clarified photograph that I was working from.

I was happy with the outcome, because I think I captured his joyful curiosity and interestedness.

May all babies have the degree of loving and coziness as this little fellow.