Family Portrait

If you've ever taken even just one art class, chances are you've had to do a self-portrait.

I've certainly done my fair share, most of them begrudgingly.  

But a family portrait, now that's something I can get into.  I've painted several over the years, each one an attempt to capture not so much our likenesses, but rather our lives.  

​I painted the first one right after Seth was born.  Robert and I were so very proud!      

"Self-portrait" watercolor on paper by Holly B. Johnson ©2013

​Then I painted another when Seth was about a year and a half old.  Robert and I had just arrived in 'ToddlerVille', and we had no clue how to live there.

"Two Little Helpers" watercolor on paper by Holly B. Johnson ©2014

​Next, Sawyer came along and with him, another family portrait update.  Cue the proud parents again, and, this time, add one very proud big brother.

"Welcome Sawyer" watercolor on paper by Holly B. Johnson ©2015

Now Seth is four years old, and Sawyer is two.  There's another family portrait recently completed, and it's my favorite one yet! 

"Here Come the Johnsons" watercolor on paper by Holly B. Johnson ©2017

​This time I included my logo.  For one, because I intend on using this image for my business cards.  For two, because for the first time since baby #1, I feel like I have the time and energy to really work on my artwork.  So, I made a rather bold statement with my business name.

Robert and I are in the background, of course, because everyone knows once you become parents, it's pretty much all about the kids from there on out.  It's appropriate that Robert is holding the ladder because he's the strong, steady, practical one with a real job who holds everything all together.  Then there's me on the ladder, on tippy toes reach, reach, reeeeeeeaching, terrified to take that next step even though I probably should and it would really just make everything easier.  Also, the me in that painting knows good and well that those kids and their dog are up to something, but I'm not looking because I just want to finish painting this one last thing for the love of pete.  

I like to draw everything with a mechanical pencil first. The tiny tip of a mechanical pencil is perfect because a lot of my work is very small.

​Rusty is our wire fox terrier, and he's pretty much got it made.  We take him on trips and let him eat Popsicles.  We buy him Halloween costumes and celebrate his birthday.  When Seth was a toddler, the two of them skatted across the still wet cement slab Robert had recently poured to build his workshop on.  The footprints are still there.  As are the teeth marks on the kids' wooden toy box and the claw marks all over the inside of the front door.  Rusty is a terrible dog and the best dog, and we love him.  

I painted Rusty first because I'm way more confident painting dogs than I am people!

My boys are sweet, funny, and smart.  

Sawyer does whatever his big brother does, so naturally I depicted him following along behind Seth.

​They run everywhere they go.  They eat their breakfast in super hero capes and their lunch in firefighter helmets.  They wear camo pants and cowboy boots, and they stuff my purse with rocks and Hot Wheels and little plastic dinosaurs.  They are best friends, and they snug up together in the same twin bed every night, even though they have two.   

I almost always paint clothes last. I fret over making the right color choices, afraid of screwing up the composition as a whole.

Most days they pull ball caps on their heads before they head out the door.  They have several, but Seth has this one Ole Miss cap that's he's worn since he was a year old.  It's depicted in both this portrait and the last.  Usually if Seth's not wearing it, then Sawyer is, and one day when they both grow out of it, I swear I will find a way to have that thing bronzed.  

Outlining everything with black Sharpie at the end is always my favorite part!

So that's us, here and now.  I'm super happy to have this piece finished.  Thank you for letting me share it with you!