Painting with jmk

In addition to being a good friend, a Dominican survivor, and an artist, John also enjoys writing. He chronicles the daily turmoil of life and those things that are important to him and distributes his musings to his friends via an e-mail newsletter. The following excerpt was taken from one such e-mail.

Yesterday I went up to Pointe Baptiste. Amie and Raina and Wendy, Simon and Andrew were spending the holiday weekend there, and now that Raina is almost 2 and 1/2 and Andrew is over 2, this is their first Easter when dying and hunting for Easter eggs are events in which they can participate fully.

Always up for a creative activity, I was happy to be part of things, and to have an opportunity to further bond with these little ones who are fast becoming complex and interesting people. As it turned out, it was a lovely day for an outing with clear skies all along the North and East coasts.

Knowing Dominica's ability to be a plan spoiler and knowing how unpredictable the needs and moods of two 2-year-olds can be, I packed painting supplies and a flexible attitude. It was a good thing. When I arrived, a beach outing was on order and then a nap. Egg dying seemed unlikely to take place while I was there. Yet, something about the excitement of the moment and, perhaps, the inspiring locale on those cliffs overlooking wind-and-water-sculpted coastal formations of red rock and earth, the deep azure of the Guadeloupe channel and the spattering of islands, Des Saintes, Guadeloupe and Marie Galante, along the hazy horizon gave Raina unquenchable creative energy. After sharing with Andrew a watercolor painting session on the beach (their first), she was tearfully determined to forgo her scheduled nap in favor of dying eggs. So I got to share a bit of that with them after all.

My First Painting by Andrew

Here are the products of John's patient instruction in the fine art of water colors, given to Andrew and Raina under the shade of an almond tree on the beach at Calibishie one gorgeous Saturday morning...

Trying Something Else by Andrew
Whatcha think Grandma Ann?

The Turtle by Raina

Raina's painting skills are a little more advanced, but she's got PLENTY of artist blood coursing through her veins!

Basket Boy
Abstract by Raina

Click Here to go to Raina's page

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