Painting and Friendship

I love to paint – craft projects, walls, fences, houses, whatever – I enjoy it. After a professional career in Corporate America, I find painting relaxing. It provides a beginning, a middle, and an end. When you are done, you step back and feel a sense of satisfaction in a job well done.

Painting with my granddaughter is the most fun of all. And, we are so lucky to have a talented friend who can do just about any craft out there in addition to being a wonderful painter. Because she teaches crafts and painting in a variety of settings, she is a busy lady.

So, my granddaughter and I love it when she has time for us to have a painting class. The other day we went to visit her and had a good time as usual. We paint. We laugh. We talk. We catch up on family news. We laugh. We paint some more. It makes for a great morning.

At each lesson, we do a different project. This time we painted a funky chicken on a slate tile. We had leftover slate tiles from the farm-house kitchen so we took some with us. She provided the example, supplies and thankfully her expertise.

Life really is good when you can spend a morning with a special friend, enjoy your granddaughter’s company, learn to paint something new, and laugh out loud while doing it.

We’re already planning our next painting project – sheep. We’re going to do a primitive painting project that will include some sheep. And, without a doubt, another good time will be had by all. Can’t wait!

Granddaughter (11) comments:  Love going to see her. She is always so nice to me.

Art with a Splash

Our New Hampshire TV Channel, WMUR, hosts an evening show, Chronicle, that features local people doing interesting personal and professional things.

I saw a show on “Art With A Splash” in Portsmouth, NH. It was an art studio offering classes where you enjoy painting with acrylics and bring your own “splash.” Everyone looked like they were having so much fun painting I couldn’t resist checking them out.

Their calendar is extensive – lighthouses, Eiffel Tower, local scenes. You choose the picture you want to paint, the day and time that works for you, register, and then you bring your own beverage of choice.

My granddaughter and I enrolled in the class to paint Prescott Park, which is a wonderful area in Portsmouth with unbelievable flower gardens in the summer – high aspirations but we were so enthusiastic.

There were 23 people painting and having a good time, a cork or two popping, and music in the background with a few sing-a-longs as well. They provide everything you need to create a work of art from the apron to the paints and canvas. A very talented instructor took us through the whole painting process. We started with the sky and grass and moved on to the fence, curvy tree and flowers with examples of how to do each stroke along the way.

It is a family run business, and they have their eye on customer service. We were treated like guests in their home providing everything we needed to complete our picture and to have a great time. You can check out the smiles and art work in their gallery.

I think I feel the Eiffel Tower calling to us. Like to paint? Want to have a fun evening? By all means, make a reservation at Art With A Splash and do both.

Granddaughter (11) paints her experience:

The instructor was great.  It was good that they provided everything.  Everyone was nice.  I had a good time.

Linked to Grandparent’s Say It Saturday.