I have a special playroom update to show you today! In case you’re just tuning in to my playroom makeover, so far I’ve found storage for the kids’ toys and organized them with some adorable DIY faux chalkboard labels. I’m off to a pretty good start!
I knew the playroom needed some artwork to break up all the boring, gray walls, and I happened to have the perfect pieces to add just the right bright pop of color to the space! I created this Canvas Art Display from a very special art project my boys did a few months ago…
My mother-in-law has a cousin from Matlacha, Florida that comes to visit us here in Indiana every once in awhile. Her name is Leoma Lovegrove, and she is such an creative, colorful, and amazingly talented woman!
Leoma an internationally known artist whose work can be easily recognized by its vibrancy and unique style. She has been represented in numerous galleries through out the United States and has made quite the name for herself. Her portrait of Jimmy Carter hangs in his Presidential Library in Atlanta, Georgia. She also has art in the private collections of the White House in Washinton D.C. as well as George W. Bush’s Presidential Library in Dallas. Leoma was even honored at an artist’s reception in the White House given by First Lady, Laura Bush.
Leoma is such a kind and beautiful woman, and I just love when her and her husband come to visit! Last time they were here, Leoma offered to do a painting session with my boys, and they were SO excited! We headed up to the farm and all piled in her mobile paint studio, a tiny yellow camper she calls “The Yellow Submarine”. She gave the boys each their own canvas and paint brush and instructed them on how to paint. They watched her intently and copied each brush stroke onto their canvas.
Here are some fun photos from our painting lesson:
(I apologize, the Yellow Submarine didn’t have very good lighting!)
Wyatt (the little blonde one) cracks me up with his faces!
That painting session in the Yellow Submarine is a memory the boys and I will never forget, and we will cherish these canvases forever! What makes them even more special is what the paintings represent…
Leoma and the boys painted the view from our house looking out towards the family farm. This summer I let the boys walk across the field to the farm by themselves for the first time. The family owns the field and I could see them the whole time, but I was a big step for me letting them go off on their own! I may have shed a tear or two at the thought of my babies getting so big : (
In Leoma’s painting you can see the dark tree line to the right and the white sheds and farm house to the left of the trees. Leoma added the path across the field and the boys holding hands walking together.
I hung Leoma’s painting up using some velcro and mini clothespins that I covered with washi tape. The velcro is hidden unless you’re looking up close!
I wanted to add a fun border around the boys’ canvases so I picked up some old pictures frames from Goodwill, removed the glass and backing, and painted the frames bright blue and green to match our toy storage bins.
I hung the blue one around my oldest son, Alec’s, painting. He was so worried about messing up, but Leoma taught him that there are no mistakes in art! He couldn’t wait to show it off to Daddy.
And I hung the green frame around my youngest son, Wyatt’s, painting. He had so much fun and tried so hard, bless his little heart!
Leoma showed the boys a trick to finish their painting – Paint all around the outside edges of your canvas so you don’t have to worry about fancy framing! It looks much better than having the bright white canvas sticking out!
I hung their little art gallery in a corner of the playroom that I hope to turn into their “creative area.” I want to re-finish a little table we have so they can do their art, Lego building, or whatever there!
Now that I have some artwork up on the walls, I’m moving on to some other fun projects for the playroom! If you follow Love Grows Wild on Facebook or Instagram, I’m sure you’ve seen some sneak peeks of what’s to come!
Thank you SO much to Leoma Lovegrove and her wonderful husband, Mike, for spending time with the boys and giving us such a wonderful memory! 
You can learn more about Leoma and her beautiful art through her Facebook pages:
Lovegrove Gallery and Gardens
Want to see all the projects from our Playroom Makeover?
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P.S. I’m sharing this post at some awesome link parties… Check them out HERE!
I love it! What great colors and even better memories. Beautiful artwork by all three.
I love this! Not only is the artwork awesome but I bet the memories from that painting fun will stay with everyone forever.
Stopping over from Mom on Timeout. Those are wonderful, thank you for sharing!
Love your canvas art display!! What a great way to add some fun & color to your kiddos’ playroom! :o)
~Brenda @ChattingOverChocolate.blogspot.com
I love your boys’ paintings and the way you displayed them inside the bright frames.
We’d love for you to share your posts at our Finished Friday Link-Ups!
I love the way you hung the paintings…but I love the story of them even more!
I’m your newest follower and I’d love to have you drop by Moose Mouse Creations sometime!
I love this. Looks like you all had a lot of fun too!I would love for you to come over to my blog hop and share this there!
http://countrifiedhicks.blogspot.com/2013/02/mondays-with-countrified-hicks-blog-hop.html
I love kids art work! The frames make it look soo good! Nice work!
The paintings look stunning, really fantastic job 🙂
Really great work you have done. Canvas is really a great way for getting more attraction on our homes empty walls. Nice to see this interesting post and your work. Many thanks for sharing.