Saturday, December 22, 2012

Santa Hard At Work

I decided I wanted to paint a mall Santa and I knew I needed to do it before it was too late. So I headed over to the Smith Haven Mall. There was a perfect looking Santa there (really classy) and I carefully scoped out a spot to stand where I wouldn't be in the way of any of the vendors with their carts, or get knocked into by any of the frantic shoppers. I couldn't get a direct view without being really obvious, but I found a pole I could lean against with a fairly good view.
Of course as soon as I started sketching Santa someone came and walked him away for a break. That gave me the opportunity to sketch the Santa setup while he was gone. He finally got back and I worked on him. That was the easy part but getting a child done was hard. Either the parents would be blocking my view, the child was screaming, or they didn't stay long enough. The child I did was mostly from memory because she didn't stay put very long. I think I made her a little too small, but that is one of the perils of plein air. lol
When I was almost finished Santa did come over during one of the lulls in traffic to see what I was doing...that just shows that his mind wasn't completely on the kids if he noticed me. lol
I thought about saving this for next year's Christmas card, but knowing me there will be several more opportunities before then to get something new done.
This is 5 x 7.


6 comments:

  1. Did you tell him what you wanted for Christmas?

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  2. Hahaha, Polly beat me to the same comment. Ho Ho Ho Joan, Have a wonderful Christmas.

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  3. You and Santa Rock Joan!
    You certainly captured the holiday spirit with this wonderful piece!
    Enjoy!
    Michael

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  4. Yay, you got your Santa sketch! Fun!

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  5. I love this, Joan! The little girl looks too perfect and more like a doll to me but I find that fits in perfectly with Santa and I'm sure he'd probably rather have been holding a doll anyway! LOL I think this would make a fabulous Christmas card! I wish I could paint like this.

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  6. Polly - I think he already got my list. lol

    Carol - Thanks!!! Have a Merry one!

    Michael - Thank you. Santa is here for such a limited time so I have to do as many as I can. lol

    Tina - I had to go for it. Thanks.

    Sherry - Thanks so much!!!

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