Art in Real Life #6
Painting Personalized Peg Families
Welcome to Art in Real Life #6! This is a continuation and finishing of Art in Real Life #4.
I’ve been busy painting personalized peg people for each of our grown children, their spouses, and children - 17 in all, counting my husband and myself. I put our entire peg people family on the mantel in front of the backdrop of the nativity set soon to be placed there. Then I took a family photo to make Christmas cards to send to each of our children’s families. They will receive their own personalized family of peg people in a box that includes a photo of our entire family attached to the inside lid of the box.
Earlier this year I needed to fill up my joy bucket, and for me one of the best ways to fill that bucket is to create something. I got the idea of buying some unfinished wood toys and painting them for the young grandkids. It’s been a lot of fun painting a doll house, vehicle with peg people, and even a tree house. Here we are all shown in the ‘living room’ of the painted tree house.
We are Family
As I mentioned in the last ‘Art in Real Life #4’ post, when I thought about my family and the upcoming holidays I began to feel sad considering how the past few years has caused separation in our family, both physical separation with some moving across country and then some interpersonal struggles between some family members. With all that has gone on in the world the past few years, I have a feeling I am not alone in this. I asked myself, ‘What can I do?’ ‘What can help?’ ‘How can I regain joy in a healthy way that is good for me and blesses my family?’
I decided to paint each person in our family and make two of each one - one to send each of our grown children’s families and one set of our entire family to keep at our home for the grands to play with when they come, and for a reminder for me to pray for each person.
Pray - Paint - Play
Painting each person’s peg doll has been a good way for me to think of them with blessing and pray for them. As I plan and draw each one, I ask myself things like: If this person were a color, what would they be? What things do they like to do? What are their strengths and gifts? Then I ask God for insight and pray for the person specifically, blessing them to be all they were created to be, for peace, unity and anything else that comes to mind. It’s also just plain fun. I’m painting them by family groups, so it prompts me to pray for them as families too.
Art Reflecting Life
My sweet granddaughters are my encouragement as they ‘test’ the product and play. They love playing with their personalized family. Even though some of the other grandchildren are older I think they will enjoy a Christmas decoration that is unique to them, and their parents too.
The family boxes are ready. The big family photo was copied, laminated and glued into the inside lid with double-sided tape. I’ll wrap the pegs with tissue paper and the cards made with a hand-written note on the inside also fit into the box.
Blessings of joy and wonder to you!
Valerie
Supply Links
To begin the peg people I sand them lightly and either use a clear gesso primer for the wood to show through or paint a skin color on the head and sometimes the arms. I use fluid acrylic paints, both craft and fine art paints, and round brushes with some quite small that come to a good point. Permanent markers will also work for fine line drawing. When dry I spray varnish them. The kids love them!
48 piece set of unfinished unpainted wood peg dolls
20 piece set of unfinished unpainted wood peg dolls, larger
Set of 5 unfinished, unpainted wood peg dolls (4 with hats - children of the world)
Unfinished, unpainted wood house shelf
Unfinished, unpainted wood mushroom set
Unfinished, unpainted wood box with hinged lid, set of 4
The Amazon links above are from products I have purchased and used in the above post. If you click on the link and purchase I receive a small commission. It doesn’t cost you anything. A win/win! Thank you for your support.