"PAXTON'S ALPHABET" © SAUNDRA LANE GALLOWAY

2'x2'

Mixed media on cradled panel

Private Collection

My sweet little grandson is turning 3 years old in a few weeks.  He is still a treasure for my soul.  He's smart, he's funny, he's loving, he's the whole package as far as this nana is concerned!  I ADORE this boy!

 

 

OK...you get my drift!  SO, he is STILL totally in love with numbers and letters...he spells; DID spell WAY early...he's a genius in my view!  I know, I KNOW...all nana's think that...but, I have EVIDENCE! OH JOY!

SO, I wanted to paint him something that honored his love and immersion in the alphabet and with numbers, before he gets to an age where those things aren't important anymore...I have a small window of just a couple of years, so I painted his "Ode" from me.

The family is all very much Huskers fans, so I know my little guy will be too...I started with that...

 

I knew I wanted to add words and such that reflected his love of the alphabet, so I put a piece of Nonsense Alphabet by Edward Lear as part of the abstract background.

  I then added a bit of a definition of genius as I believe my grandson is BRILLIANT!

Blocking in color was next.  I put in the yellowish color to bring warmth but ended up changing it after discussing with my daughter...oh...ps...the hand you see up there is a copy of a wonderful present Paxton sent me...I HAD to put that in there...

SO...here is the first version with the yellowish color...

It was OK, but note how the helmet sort of seems disjointed...so I asked my daughter to be HONEST, and make suggestions...and she made a great one...use red to tie it in...so I did...and the final version came out...I LOVE it tons better! What do you think?

so, we shall see if they love it in person...if not nana can always do another one!

HAPPY CREATING!