Water painting is a pretty straightforward undertaking. All you need is water, paint brushes, maybe some sponges, a cup or bucket, and well, yourselves. To get busy painting with water, Annabelle and I sat down on a sidewalk alongside our town’s fountain.

At first, water painting was serious business. Annabelle would dip her brush in her black plastic bucket and really think about what it was that she wanted to paint: In the words of Picasso, “I paint objects as I think them, not as I see them.”

And in the words of Pollock, “The painting has a life of its own. I try to let it come through.” I wonder whether Pollock would’ve enjoyed splattering water on a hot dry sidewalk . . .

because in a couple of seconds, the painting evaporates to the sky. Luckily, Annabelle didn’t seem to mind collecting more water . . .



especially since wet feet and wet hands make for great sidewalk painting . . .

Picasso tells us that “painting is just another way of keeping a diary” . . .

could it also be that painting is just another way to make friends?

But perhaps Henry Ward Beecher said it best: ” Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.”
What water painting brings to (my) mind is just how transitory beauty and life can be. In one moment, we are painting suns, star fish, hand and feet prints, trees and houses, and dogs too, and the next, our paintings are gone, we are drying off with a towel, and one more day, one more moment we will treasure, has passed.
It kind of makes me grateful for photography . . .

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Water Painting – that is so cool.
I wish I had thought of that when my kids were little!
What a beautiful post! It looks like a very fun day too! My daughter is also named Annabel (although spelled differently) :)
Aw. You guys look like you are having such fun with these ‘Days of You and Me’. I think these are really going to be memories (and photos) to treasure. :)
I am really enjoying your adventures with Annabelle. Water painting sounds like the perfect activity for children all the way to the ideal clean up. I look forward to each new day and how you fill it with fun.
This is such a wonderful posts. Great pictures and a great story, too!
what a beautiful post, pictures and words!
Great pics and post!
Lovely photos!
Bravo!!! This one was among the best posts ever!!
Oooh, what a great idea! Great job!
Beautiful shots! I love how you captured the magic and wonder of water painting as seen through a child’s eyes.
Wow wow wow great idea and fab photos
These are all beautiful captures. Your colors and DoF are amazing. Love the water painting idea too… may have to try that one!
Jessi, Annabelle continues to be one of my favorite names; I’m so glad my husband and I agreed to it.
Amber, I’m already enjoying the documenting of our 30 days together; I think I will create a physical album for Annabelle’s keepsake so that she’ll have something to look back on during this special and short time we have left together, the days of just her and me.
To everyone else, thank you so much for your kind words about my photos and water painting. Since becoming a mother, I’ve found photography to be a wonderful outlet that just continues to pay its rewards.
Wow. These are all fantastic!
Great post and pics! I’m gonna try that with my kids.
Such a beautiful depiction of summer! I very much enjoyed this.
What a wonderful idea!!! And your thoughts behind each photo are just fantastic. Looks like a very fun day.
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