Mario, mushrooms, motorcycles, and Manatees!

Oh, how the days are flying by!

I appreciate your patience more than you'll ever know.

I have been creating, just not a lot of painting for shows.

But these little guys!

I really enjoy small paintings, and I hope and pray you do as well.

These guys are 4 x 12 inches and are so much fun to paint!

The smaller pieces enable me to ease back into a groove which will allow me to get back to posting and painting on a regular basis.

They are a study for the round posted earlier.

Just before my world went into hyper speed, I got lost in Super Mario World.

I don't remember if our children even played this game, other than a beta version.

Don't ask, it was S L O W....

They may have played it on their hand-held device as well.

I cannot remember what they were called, maybe it will come to me.

Anyway, the past few weeks are a blur.

We took Archer camping and made memories for him for a few days after I got started on the 100 days.

I then jumped full force into Celebration Church Summer Surge.

So much building of cardboard pieces, mushrooms, motorcycle, a throne, and a boat with a sail.

So much cutting with a razor I could barely lift my arm up because it was sore.

I chatted with the chiropractor about it because I was concerned that I might need surgery on that arm.

(This is the same one I fell on while loading up dinosaurs a year ago.)

But God!

My chiropractor said no, just keep using it so it doesn't freeze up.

Boy, have I used it!

After coming home from camping, I jumped into the deep waters of building.

 The paintings were not on my radar, nor were they my own pieces for sale.

I am honored to use my talents for God's glory and if one child is reached through my artistry he gives me, then so be it!

I also oversaw a full week of painting with the youth at the church.

We went through GALLONS of paint, yards of fabric, many feet of wire, lots of lumber, and scads of time while completing the sets.

The combination of time with me, the adults, and the youth was well over 

500 hours just in the build week alone.

I am eternally grateful for the experience of working with these future leaders of our church.

Some of them will go very far, I'm sure!

Last Sunday found us doing the actual building of the sets in the new sanctuary.

I was nervous because I was concerned it might not be enough to fill the space. 

After 3 1/2 hours we were completely in place, and the space was filled with Super Mario.

The following day I went to see how the children reacted and was 

delighted to see so many parents enthralled as well.

 I could see the adults pointing out things to the children and 

reminiscing about their own childhood memories.

It did my heart glad to see the kids interacting and parents photographing as well.

Our church served over 450 children!

Then came break down day on Wednesday.

It all came down in 1 1/2 hours, with some being reused in our children's church for the next month.

One of the children witnessing the break down, said it looks so sad now.....

The boat and four of the mushrooms went to the Eastern Shore Repertory Theater 

for their production of Moana today actually.

I also had precious children requesting coins and stars to take home.

Two of the figures have been spoken for, with one of the youth requesting Bowser and our grandson wanting the Yoshi for his room.

Next year will be an experience for sure.

We were breaking down and I heard the pastor ask the kids do you want to know about next year?

My inner kid screamed YES!!!

I ran into the room to see.

I think the Teens watching me in the back thought I was crazy, 

fist pumping and yelling YES, YES, YES!

I don't think they've witnessed a grandparent age adult acting like that.

I need to pull my brother into it as he LOVES Marvel comic movies.

I will get immersed in that world for sure.

I can already see the Holy Spirit working on that one, with images ALREADY popping into my head!!!!

I must write them down, so they don't keep me awake nights planning for next year.

It's going to be another big year; I already can tell.

Manatees Acrylic on canvas, 4 x 12 inches 

Day 10 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

 

2 days, no paintings

The past two days have been intense.

I have been working hard on the Super Mario build for Celebration Church.

This is another major build, as there are multiple parts and pieces required to complete the sets that the children will be immersed in when coming into the program.

Mind you, this will only be the foyer.....

The stage will mostly be created visually on our church's large led screen in the main sanctuary.

I'm having so much fun creating these pieces.

I am immersed myself in the world of Super Mario, constantly getting ideas for how to build.

I pray as I create, and the Holy Spirit frequently answers me.

While working on the first couple of the mushrooms, I have to admit struggling somewhat.

Some help please!

The base of the large one was simply covered in paper and not making me happy at all.

The larger one is over 40 inches tall.

They need larger bases to keep them from toppling over, and I need a way to remove the caps to make them easier to paint.

The second one is the one in front and has a new design.

As I worked, the ideas started flowing and the new design was born.

I even rebuilt the larger one's base and cap attachment.

I am now much happier with the result, but I am going through massive amounts of cardboard.

Fortunately, I have a large amount from Sarah and her job at Bass Pro Shops.

Thanks Sarah!

(Hey I need more LARGE boxes!)

I still have an incredible number of coins, thwomps, bricks, boxes, and trees to build.

The trees are going to be quite large, with bases made possibly from pallets, wire pieces, and fabric.

Still mulling that one over in my mind.

There's also a motorcycle, two gates, and a main entrance.

Backdrops on the 28 panels we painted with over 3 gallons of Kilz.

(Thanks Chris! It took the two of us 4 hours, so I would've been 8 hours or more by myself!)

Fortunately, there is a week planned of youth painting the scenery.

I just have to get things projected and planned.

The new sanctuary is much larger than the space we decorated before!

Today was a full day of working on more mushrooms.

I'm afraid I may see them in my sleep.

My arm is reminding me of my age.

There is lots of razor cutting of double thickness cardboard.

I am in my element of creating, recycling, and just plain fun!

I will forge on because I am working for the Kingdom of Jesus. 

I will be filled with pure joy as I work.

Days 8 & 9 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2026

Cardboard, masking tape, hot glue, 16 hours so far!

 

I "Arted" more today!

The youth were all working hard today.

We will be ahead of the game by tomorrow evening.

I'm so proud of the kids, taking instruction, following through, and completing tasks.

They are an amazing team to have.

Of course, today we started painting the dinosaurs.

The kids are very excited to work on them.

But before dinosaurs, we worked on more leaves for the jungle atmosphere.

I am buying a container and storing these leaves for future use.

Not going through this again!

We've gone through almost 1400 feet of wire, several rolls of tape, and two large rolls of green papers.

Resorting to standing on a chair to reach the long neck's upper reaches.

The kids are excited to see them come to life under their hands.

By the time we're finished they will have several layers of paint on them.

The belly is worked on while the dinos were on their sides.

Several teams working at once.

Sometimes you have to get under the dinosaur to paint!

I think they're having fun!

Although I know we're all tired of leaves, wires, and paint.

Sets this big are a lot of work.

The stage is 10 separate pieces with a working door on one side of the stage.

Each alcove is 4 pieces X 2, the large alcove under the balcony is 8 pieces.

There are two reserve pieces for whatever we need.

Of course, the set dressing on Sunday will pull it all together.

I painted too.

 Really, I did!

I painted the upper parts of the set, to look like palms are peeking up out from behind the wall.

I set up and painted leaves by the dozen, changing them from flat to fabulous.

I then handed over the leaf painting to another team.

I also directed a lot of kids in their works.

Our total today was 78 more hours.

Go team KOTC!

I went to the hardware store to get more wire tonight as well as more green paint.

We have large palm branches to spray.

Multiple panels with palm branches and plants to paint for backgrounds behind each of the dinosaurs.

Gates looking more like stonework paint.

Greenery to assemble with several hundred leaves.

Really hectic, really head hurting (me trying to paint, while being asked "what's next?"),

 really fun, fun, fun!

I Arted more today!, Paint on multiple canvases, (including dinosaurs)

Day 22 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025

 

I'm "Arted" out today!

Each of these VBS builds are different and yet the same.

What an incredible day at Celebration Church.

The Youth and adults we have are amazing and wonderful.

I painted some, but the youth got an astounding amount of work done today.

Uncomplaining for the most part, they dogged until they were almost completed with 

Every

Single

Panel!

Sixteen to be exact.

I am so grateful for them.

There also was an amazing team of ladies cutting hundreds of leaves.

Several bunches of leaves had wires attached as well.

We have some purchased leaves that did not have wires.

Hopefully we can save all of them this year, instead of having to make them again.

If you remember, there were leaves two years ago too!

It's a lot of work!

The boys at the table were cutting wire for the leaves.

They cut wire ALL day!

I've also had to go buy more wire to put on the larger leaves.

It's going to be a jungle out there.

The guys also started the build on the "Gates"

There are two sets, one for the entrance into the sanctuary, the other is for the stage.

We also removed lights from the galaxies from last year, and taped the holes.

Two will be painted for the stage.

I'm not sure yet what will happen to the other two.

We also used scraps of paper from the leaf cutting to build "rocks".

Sarah is also there; I just didn't get a photograph of her working.

She painted 9 flats for the stage today.

I'm sure she's tired of the gray paint!

My right-hand woman for sure.

I can always count on her beautiful smile and generous laughter.

The youth are extremely excited to paint dinosaurs tomorrow.

Anyway, it was a full day of working together.

We were there from about 8am to 4:30 pm

20 people x conservatively 6 hours each

120 hours!!!!

Did I paint?

On sets, yes.

Did I get a painting a day done?

Technically, not really.

Space and Grace for me today.

I truly am "Arted" out.

Goodnight!

I'm "Arted" out today, No painting, just hard work!

Day 21 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2025