Modelling for Len Gibbs

We had an amazing opportunity today! The photographer who took photos of Acacia with Nathan for the Homecoming sculpture was hired to also photograph 2 kids for the painter, Len Gibbs, who will be painting a picture to use as a fundraiser. Len asked the photographer if he knew of some good models and he recommended Acacia because she did so well as a model for her Dad! Today, Caleb & Acacia went down to the beach with Nathan & I and posed for Len's paintings. They were absolutely thrilled because he paid them $20 each and Nathan & I were thrilled because this is a very successful artist nearing the end of his painting career and using our kids-and he promised us a signed print! His signed prints go for $650 and his originals for around $7000-so it is an amazing honor to have him paint the kids. I don't know how much these prints will be sold for this fundraiser. Len was thrilled that the kids were so used to being photographed for art like this--as all artist's kids are-and took a whole bunch of extra photos of Acacia playing in the waves while the professional photographer took more photos of Caleb. He said he got enough work to keep himself busy for the next year, but this would probably be one of his last paintings. The funniest part for me was when this nearly 80 yr old artist was tromping through the water getting his own photos of Caleb while his feet were getting soaked! Then they suddenly got me up there as the "Navy wife looking forlorn as the ship pulls out of the harbour" and I decided that after 10 minutes, it really is harder than it looks! How do you look forlorn when your husband is trying to make you laugh and the photographer is telling you not to look like you're concentrating? Anyway, it was a lot of fun and a beautiful day and we love his work. Afterwards, Len's wife, Betty, invited us in for juice & cookies and we got to look at their art all over their walls and a book of Len's work and some huge doll houses they've built. We never know what's around the corner!