I remember when my children were young we would visit their grandparents. Usually their cousins would be there, too. Eventually it got too noisy with all of them there, so their grandmother would send them out on her back patio. There was a little table and an assortment of chairs. They would all sit together and eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and drink kool aid.

You will notice the sunlight on the patio with dark shadow around it, as well as light and shadow on the kids. They are grown up now, and have children of their own.

This was my first painting to be shown in a national juried show.

This is my daughter, Sarah, with her son, Brayden. I wanted to show the purity and sweetness of motherhood. She is wearing a white dress and Brayden is wearing a white outfit that my wife sewed for him. They are lit with soft, natural light coming in the window of their home. Their clothes are white with a little hint of yellow from the sun when you look at the right side. Half of their faces are in the light, while the left sides are in shadow. You do not see their eye on that side, but your mind automatically puts it in. The background is a cool color, but my daughter and grandson are warm and bright, giving a nice contrast. The upper right side shows the moulding of the stairway to give interest.