Dad.Paints.Things

Just a photo worth sharing. Larry loves his grandkids. He was gifted his fourth grandchild this past week and can’t wait to go meet him! He’s pictured here with my son, Enzo, his silly little buddy. He has a special relationship with each kid, and they all light up when he walks in the room. 😊 Have a great weekend!

-Elise

Happy Saturday, All! I just revisited this painting recently, and then I realized that it was never given its moment on here! This was a fun photoshop job. Our client wanted all the generations of farmers in her family into one picture, so we pieced them all together from various photos. The two elderly farmers on the far right were originally in sepia tone and were not wearing the red family hats that they now proudly display in the painting. So color correcting is something we can try to work on with any commissions. That happens often when combining photos, especially if there is a mixture of indoor lighting vs. outdoor lighting. The biggest key to working with our clients in creating these types of involved images is communication. It helps majorly when a client can express upfront all of the changes they want to see made, so big changes don’t pop up later in the second revision which can cause backtracking and wasted time on our part. We were so happy to see this one come to fruition! And it was even more fun to see our client’s reaction. That’s always the best part. 😊

When I tell you that he admires art everywhere he goes, I mean everywhere! Here’s Larry at Disneyworld’s Epcot park, admiring some imagery on the building. Knowing him, he’s looking to see if it’s hand-painted or screened on. ♥️

New year and ready for some new portraits! Do you have a loved one that you would love to surprise with a portrait? Maybe a pet they would love to eternalize through a painting. Message us about your idea. We love making ideas come to fruition! This was a fun one to put together. Our client had the idea to put her son’s bird on his dog’s head to get them both in the portrait. It couldn’t have turned out any cuter! We love a great pup tongue shot too. 😜

Merry Christmas everyone!! Today we are reflecting back to when one of Larry’s adorable little grandsons was born right at the height of Covid, and he wanted him to still have a chance to see Santa for the first time. Since he was in his grandson’s approved Covid bubble of people, he decided that he himself could dress up as Santa and hold him for a couple photos. It was a hit! And such a precious memory to hold. We hope you all are finding love, joy, and peace in your hearts today and always! 🎁🎄🎅🏼

When your dad is an artist…. This is his method all the way. Let no pencil lead go to waste! ✏️
-Elise

Do you ever see a photo that makes you think, “Man, I would love to see that as a painting!” That’s where Larry comes in. 😉 If you have a photo in mind that you would love to see in his painting style, drop us a message! We’d love to make it happen for you! Pictured below: Ms. Mad Martha herself, one of Larry’s biggest supporters!

Hi everybody! Elise here. We have some exciting news in the works. My dad and I were pointed in the direction of a contest that Grant’s Farm is hosting to find a mural composition that they would like to have up on one of their buildings. I’m completely biased, but after seeing his mock-up and hearing the inspiration that he had for it, I think my dad could make a great contender for this one! So I asked him, actually my mom because she’s the keeper of all our family photos, to dig up some photos of his past work for a portfolio’s sake, and it turned into some fun on Thanksgiving, reminiscing with him over sign painting memories. After working all over the city on billboards for 30+ years, the man has some stories!

It also brought me back to fond memories of being a kid, waving to my dad if we passed him on the highway while he was working up on a billboard. This was before cell phones, so he didn’t know when we’d pass by, but it was the best celebrity spotting for me. I loved seeing him up there on location. So here are some of the MANY pics I had to choose from. Before billboards were digitally printed, he was one of the reproduction artists that went up there to paint the image. He had gone to sign painter’s school prior and really grasped traditional lettering. To this day, anywhere we are, if he sees a hand-painted sign or logo, he takes a minute to lean in, study it, and then says, “That’s a pretty good job someone did there, isn’t it, Lisi.” He really is the biggest supporter of everyone pursuing their art. I know even if we are not selected, he will truly be happy for whoever is. That’s just who he is. So enjoy some old blasts from the past! Anyone from the St. Louis area remember driving past any of these?

He’s Larry to most who know him, but to our family, he’s Bunkar. A name my daughter gave him when she was two and trying to say Grandpa. Just a Bunkar appreciation post. We love you!

I started official drawing classes in high school, and I remember being so timid to the point that my drawings barely even showed up on the page. Then we had a contrast assignment, and I remember stressing out that evening as my dad was in passing. He offered his artistic knowledge. He explained that all it takes to learn how to draw is to learn how to see the light dance off of surfaces. He took his soda can he had finished, crushed it up, and sat it under a light. That was going to be my study for the assignment, he decided. He sat there and pointed out the highlights. Taught me how to differentiate the midtones. And how to really attack the shadows. Don’t hold back! By the end of the lesson that night, my passion was reborn. He helped me get that can popping off the page, and when I turned it in, my teacher called me up to her desk to question if I had someone else do my assignment. 😂 I told her not technically, but my dad assisted in a lesson that night. She told me to keep learning from him. And that’s what I’ve done for the rest of my life. 😊 I love you so much dad. Happy Fathers Day! Thanks for the lesson. ♥️
-Elise

A recent painting that dad finished. If you are looking for a superimposed background, we can work with you on that. Would you have guessed that these two were not actually on the beach for this image of them? 🙃🌴

Today behind the scenes:
“Hey mom…. What are these things?” 😊