Now, onto the post…
Mr. Handsome has been painting again. It’s been about five months since I have shown you his latest masterpieces, so I figured it was about time for an update.
This one is my absolute favorite. He completed it in March and hid it under the guest bed until our anniversary in June. It was all I could do to keep from peeking! The painting is a reproduction of one of our ocean engagement pictures. (We were engaged in Florida.)
Here are a few random landscapes that he has painted so far this summer…
Now before you start wondering why the next one is significantly lower quality than the others, let me tell you that it’s not Mr. Handsome’s. It’s mine. I’ll admit I haven’t painted a picture since elementary school, but I know it’s definitely not nearly as good as my husband’s paintings. Hopefully it’s a decent start, though.
Did your husband teach you, Ellie?
Yep! He did. He's a very patient teacher.
Ellie
Cute! Did you really go into the water for your engagement pictures? 🙂
Your painting is good too! Maybe it's a bit too static but for a person who hasn't hold a brush in many years it's really good. Honestly, no one who hasn't had an education in painting thinks they're going to be the next Monet, but that said most people I know (me included) literally wouldn't know where to start. So well done! 🙂
Thank you! We did go in the ocean for our engagement pictures. The photo session was a surprise from Mr Handsome after he proposed.
Ellie
Such gorgeous paintings, all of them!!! I'd love to see the photo the engagement painting was based on! Also, I'd love to know where each of the paintings is supposed to be (which state/country/national park/etc.)!
Thank you! I'll ask my husband if he minds if I post the engagement photo. As for the other paintings, sometimes he paints scenes that we have come across in nature, but these are all Bob Ross tutorials.
Ellie
First spiders and now snakes??? Yikes! I grew up in Pennsylvania and we had rattlesnakes and copperheads. You guys were lucky with the snake. I remember my mom running over a copperhead on purpose with her car…it was about 4 feet long. Scary!!!
Wow, that's long. That made me wonder if we have copperheads here. I looked it up, and we do. Yikes! Do you have any tips on how to prevent a snake bite?
Ellie
My dad unfortunately gets bit all the time(by Gardner snakes) but that's because he picks them up! With rattler snakes, if you can hear it, it doesn't like that you are that close so you need to wait for the rattling to stop before you try to walk by (at as much distance as you can). A walking stick is always a good idea too…
A walking stick would be a great idea. Thanks for the idea. 🙂
Ellie
What a frighting thing to stumble upon a rattle snake like that!! So glad it Did not strike. My favorite painting of Mr Handsome's is the one with the light house. Yours is also very nice it reminds me of were I am from which is Oregon. I now live Texas.
The lighthouse is my favorite, too! We will be traveling to Oregon later this year for my brother's wedding. I have never been and am really looking forward to it!
Ellie
I'm a current undergraduate art student…not bad, they are a little static and flat, but that may be to lower quality paint. The better quality brands you buy, the higher quality pigments it will contain, meaning more vibrant colors. Not everyone needs to spend a ton on paint if you're just starting out, but it makes a difference.
Thanks for sharing that, Alisha. Are you hoping to start an art school when you finish your degree?
Ellie
Watch some of the old Bob Ross shows online. You'll pick up some painting pointers.
My husband really likes Bob Ross tutorials! 🙂
Ellie
Are you sure he's not a professional artist? These are gorgeous! I also looked at the last picture without reading the little blurb, and I thought it was Mr. Handsome's too! You have quite a talent as well.
How kind of you! I'll tell him you said that. 🙂
Ellie
Don't worry, Ellie. Your picture looks just as good as Mr. Handsome's.
Sure, at first it looks bad, but if you keep it up, you'll be able to paint just as well as him.
Keep up the AMAZINGLY AWESOME blogging you do so very well.
Cheers all the way from Ecuador!
Thanks, James!
Ellie
Love your Mr Handsome's paintings. What lovely photos you must have had. I think you did a great job of your painting. I have no idea how to paint scenery, though I do ok painting furniture 😄
Glad u made it past the rattle snake ok. Always a bit unnerving to walk past a snake so close.
Thanks so much, Robyn!
Ellie
My favorite picture of your husbands paintings is the one right before yours with the beautiful pink sunset, gorgeous! And yes your picture is wonderful too! you did a great job Ellie, I could not paint like that at all! As far as the snake question, I'm REALLY scared of them and I live in ND and I don't ever see them around anywhere here. If I did I think I'd run F*A*S*T!
Thank you! I do agree that the pink sunset is beautiful. I suppose it makes sense that there aren't many snakes in ND. It's a fairly flat state without too many forests, isn't it?
Ellie
Wow, your husband is ridiculously talented and I think yours is great too! A thousand times better than anything I could conjure up with a paintbrush Ellie! I am in love with his first landscape picture-is that a US landscape?
Not helpful for avoiding snakes but we have a lot here in Aus so if you happen to get bitten, make a makeshift tourniquet to 'tie off' the area shortly above the bite ASAP. It cuts off the circulation to an extent and prevents the venom from spreading quickly like it normally would until you can get to a hospital or other medical care. A bandage or even a stretchy sock or tshirt is fine in hiking situations if that's all you've got.
We have our fair share of deadly creatures down here so basic first aid for bites is a must. Snakes sense fear and strike out to present danger to themselves so best thing to do is stay calm (tough task!) and walk by as casually and naturally as possible without getting too close.
If you find yourself way too close by accident and the snake perks up, forget the calm thing and RUN haha
Thanks for the snake advice, Rachel. You sound like quite the expert! Lol. All these paintings (except the engagement one) are ones he did using Bob Ross tutorials.
Ellie
If you ever travel to Australia, particularly anywhere in the outback areas, you'll soon understand haha! Poisonous spiders just chill in your house all the time.
The thought of a giant black bear wandering around terrifies me though because we don't have those but I've seen that the US and Canada does :O I'd still love to visit though…
Just good general knowledge here in Australia :).
I used to be very afraid of snakes too; it was one of my main concerns moving to the outback with kids. But it helped me to know first aid and to learn that there's plenty of time to get to hospital if needed. I still don't like them but having a plan helped my anxiety. Hope you can come up with an emergency plan too.
I really like the first painting with the scenery and the one above yours. I'm with some of your readers in that your painting is much better than anything I could come up with.
BLESSED TO HAVE YOU AS A BLOGGER!
Lily.
Us this mom? 😆
How sweet!
No sorry. Not mom.😊
Thanks for your lovely message, Lily. 🙂
Ellie
Be careful what you do.
You don't want to lose the rights to your own images.
Did you know that Sir Arther Conan Doyle was doctor who was waiting for patients and wrote a short story. Because there was no medicare in Scotland then he waited a lot for patients. His writing became a major source of income.
What?? What does your statement have to do with this blog post at all? That's about as random as me saying I like bacon!
I think perhaps they were suggesting that Mr. Handsome's art could become a side business?
I guess they're suggesting that Ellie's writing could become a relevant source of income. It's also just a curiosity: Arthur Conan Doyle was a very important writer and his career started by chance.
What was the fun of going into the ocean with your clothes on?? Oh well, each to his own, but I wouldn't have wanted to do that.
It was kind of uncomfortable getting all wet, but it was a unique experience, and the pictures turned out great.
-E
I think you and your husband are very good painters, are talented, and are artistic.
Thank you, tigerchick. 🙂
Ellie
Mr. Handsome's painting made me curious to see your engagement pictures! Would you consider sharing them in an upcoming post? Your painting is a lot better that I would ever be able to do… good job!
I'll have to ask him if he's okay with that. 🙂 thank you for your kind words!
Ellie
Oh my word, those are incredible! I have always wanted to do painting that good! My sister is really good at it though 🙂
Wow Ellie, You are super good at it too! Awesome job to the both of you 🙂
Rattlesnakes as a general rule can strike out to half their total length. 4 foot snake equals roughly 2 foot striking distance. Just somethin to keep in mind. As I recall its Timber Rattlesnakes down there, which means they are fairly mild mannered for rattlers. Rattlers are great cause they let ya know how close is too close! Cant go wrong with a good walking stick. Just a few random thoughts, God Bless
That's nice to know that they're mild mannered! God bless you, too. 🙂
Ellie
It seems sometimes Mr Handsome has meaning in his pictures.
Thinking what would be the meaning in an engagement day photo shoot in water, I come up to the entering into this relationship within one's previous baptism. Sunsets usually are impressive as the glory of God. Curious, was Mr Handsome intending this? Also by pairing this with a story about the threat of a snake are you saying that in the new life in Christ by baptism as a couple you will be victorious over the snake that plagued us all from the first couple God set on earth.
I don't believe he was thinking that when he created the paintings, but it's an interesting thought. 🙂
Ellie
I know Bob Ross uses specific oil paints and brushes. Did y'all buy all that?
They are all beautiful!! It must be relaxing to work on. Thanks for sharing them.