Moore Grandchildren Paintings

posted June 10th, 2011 by

“When are you going to paint your grandchildren?” That’s the question I often get from my father. I usually just say, “When I get good enough.” It does’t impress him much. He’s 94, living with my 92-year-old mother, and he’d try painting all his grands and great-grands himself if he had the energy. But this month, the time came, and I painted ours.

The three Cutsforth children, in from Minneapolis.
Click for larger view.

The occasion was a family reunion, a gathering of Anne’s and my five grown and married children and their children at a big rented house at Lake Tahoe, California. It was a wild and wonderful week, with plenty of noise, field trips, family reports, and enough space to get away when there was need.

The Bergin children, in from Chicago.

Every afternoon I got away for a few hours to surreptitiously paint these little 8×10 “portraits” off my i-phone, on which I’d taken photos of the children the first day. The photos themselves were hard enough to get, as the subjects would be moving constantly, or maybe transfixed, playing some video game.

The Moore children, in from Palo Alto, CA…another due in August.

There were 24 of us gathered, half of whom were children. All cousins, always a special relationship, particularly when gathered together so infrequently. Anne and I get around to see them, and they visit us, but it’s rare to be all together. By this summer two more will be with us, as two of the mothers are great with child.

The Schmidt children, in from Seattle…another due in July.

The family units shown here are in the order of our children, youngest to oldest. It’s not necessarily the order in which I painted them, having to do more with when a given family would be leaving or mode of transport. I was using oil with a drying-time-enhancer. I’d be slowed down when one wouldn’t come out and I’d have to do it again.

The Adams family, in from England, the oldest and youngest of the group.

I signed them all, even though the children don’t know me as “Hyatt.”  To them I’m “Baba” (and Anne, “Tata”). And I dated them, something don’t don’t usually do, but this time the year would be significant. The ’11 could look like 111, and I am the third. Our son is the fourth, we’ve just been told Hyatt the fifth is coming!

Moore family reunion, June, 2011, Lake Tahoe, California. (As with all, click for larger view.)

Okay, here we are on a still-chilly mountain morning. Left to right it’s the Moores, Bergins, Moores senior, Cutsforths, Adams (standing) and Schmidts (seated). By now they’re all scattered back to their places, now enriched with small portraits to remember the stage. Anne and I, of course, are enriched just by being part of this growing group.

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Ongoing and Upcoming Events

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Via Affirmativa

In two weeks we’ll be in Glen Ere, Colorado speaking and painting (Anne will be printing) at the Via Affirmativa seminar. For info click here.
Adjacent to that I will also be conducting a “Loosen Up” Workshop at the Hunter-Wolff Gallery in Colorado Springs, June 23-24. For reservations, call: 719-520-9494.

Laguna Festival of Arts

Again this year Anne will be among those showing at this famous event. It’ll run from July 4 till August 30.

Moore & Moore Art Gallery in Dana Point

Open by Appointment
949-240-4642

Semi-Private Coaching for Painters

Offering 2-hour sessions on Mondays, and now also on Saturdays
in the Hyatt Moore Studio, Dana Point
Call  949-240-4642

Printmaking Classes

In the Anne Moore studio, Dana Point
Call for info: 949-240-4642

34 Comments

  1. Paul Merrill Jun 10, 2011
    11:31 am

    Wow, Hyatt, your next-gen quiver is full! Very cool.

  2. tony Joyce Jun 10, 2011
    11:33 am

    It’s good to know your father was a painter. Be glad that you have the energy that he hasn’t. I’m only 74 and I don’t have the that energy.

    But keep going, they’ll love you for it.

  3. Veronica Jun 10, 2011
    11:49 am

    Hey thanks for sharing that – very inspirational. You and Anne are very blessed! V~

  4. Colleen Giddings Jun 10, 2011
    11:56 am

    The family pic is amazing! What a wonderful group! So special for you to have precious time together. We love you all! The portraits are beautiful likenesses and brilliant treasured memories. Blessings Moore family!

  5. Kelly & Beth Rutt Jun 10, 2011
    11:56 am

    What a beautiful family. You and Anne look so fulfilled.

  6. Nathalie Davis Jun 10, 2011
    11:59 am

    Wow – what a great family! My first grandchild is 7 mos old and I am already getting the “when you going to paint him” routine too. Painting babies and children intimidates me – you just encouraged me. Thanks.

  7. Suszanne Droney Jun 10, 2011
    12:19 pm

    This is truly a blessing. What a WONDERFUL family! Hyatt, you’re amazing to have painted these portraits of your darling grandchildren while at the family reunion. The photo of all of you is so special. Thank you for sharing all your photos.

  8. Lisa Carden Jun 10, 2011
    12:31 pm

    Thanks for sharing these! So glad you painted them. Loved the group photo, too. Beautiful family.

  9. Lora Miller Jun 10, 2011
    12:37 pm

    Hyatt!
    As always – words fail me as to the beauty of your paintings, your family, and your heart!!!!
    Blessed to know you :) Are you doing Paint SC? Hope to see you there! I see Toni’s work everywhere now, such a talent as well.
    Lora

  10. Ursula Becker Jun 10, 2011
    12:53 pm

    Very much enjoyed seeing your grandchildren. How lucky they are to have such talented grandparents.
    Blessings,
    Ursula

  11. Yvette Granados Jun 10, 2011
    1:14 pm

    Thank you for sharing…the pictures are beautiful!!!!

  12. Dave Riggs Jun 10, 2011
    2:33 pm

    What fun! The Lord has really blessed you!

  13. Rosalie Irish Jun 10, 2011
    2:40 pm

    I always enjoy all your paintings. You are a wonder and so is Anne.

  14. annie bergin Jun 10, 2011
    4:09 pm

    Beautiful, Hyatt. What a wonderful occasion for you and Anne and all the rest, too.

  15. allan g hedberg Jun 10, 2011
    4:13 pm

    Indeed, a quiver full. Beautifully pointed with feeling and a soft touch. This gallery of young lives will live on forever…in your hearts and theirs.

  16. Grace van Thillo Jun 10, 2011
    4:54 pm

    What a beautiful Family! Thank you for sharing these wondrous portraits.

  17. candy Jun 10, 2011
    5:25 pm

    Wow, Hyatt….God has richly blessed you and Anne with such a beautiful family….We spent some time with Allison and family last night, it was so good to see them….Your paintings are amazing….

  18. teri Green Jun 10, 2011
    5:31 pm

    WE love GLen Eyre..try to stay in the top room..so much wonderful ministry there!!
    what a wonderful family!!

  19. Ann Phillips Jun 10, 2011
    7:47 pm

    Wonderful Family!!:) Great paintings of your grandchildren. They will enjoy these pieces for many years to come. Randy and I look forward to this some day with our four girls:)

  20. Rebekah K. Jones Jun 10, 2011
    8:52 pm

    Hyatt and Anne,
    So wonderful to see how God has blessed you both in such a wonderful way.
    How are your Mom and Dad doing? I miss their e-mails. I will never forget your Mom being in our house back several years and she plugged in to our home phone and she was busy all the time keeping in touch with her family and friends.
    Becky

  21. jane Ice Jun 11, 2011
    12:43 am

    Hyatt,

    How telling these paintings and the family photo are that you and Anne savor the good of the earth. Thanks for sharing.

    Jane Ice

  22. Robbin Jun 11, 2011
    11:12 am

    How wonderful and how special those portraits are, Hyatt. Good for you for getting it done. You never know the next time you’ll be together like that again. Very nice!

  23. Ken Gibson Jun 11, 2011
    12:01 pm

    Absolutely FANTASTIC! Blessing on all of you. Think about you regularly. ken.

  24. kay hodges Jun 11, 2011
    3:16 pm

    Dear Hyatt, You did a wonderful job with your grandchildren. I have 8 and have painted them all, mostly with pastels. My husband thinks they are my very best work. You have a great family! Kay Hodges

  25. sue donaldson Jun 11, 2011
    8:50 pm

    yea! Hyatt the V!!! wonderful paintings! You’re all invited for Thanksgiving…maybe we can buy the house next door…

  26. Dave and Betty Shea Jun 12, 2011
    11:10 am

    Wow! Beautiful, growing family…amazing all that’s happened since we saw you two last!

  27. Marcia McPhate Jun 12, 2011
    6:54 pm

    It just doesn’t get much better than this. Grand portraits (pun intended)!

  28. Sally and Frank Hall Jun 13, 2011
    1:29 pm

    Loved the paintings. Beautiful family. So enjoy keeping in touch this way.

  29. Tamara Stratton Interior Design Jun 13, 2011
    8:55 pm

    Awesome! Love it. Thanks for sharing. You are very blessed to have such a large and connected family- What a great gift for them to cherish too. I am sure that each one will love the heritage it represents.

  30. Sophia Beccue Jun 15, 2011
    4:10 am

    Great to see your growing family! What a joyous time together that must be. My father radiates whenever we have a family reunion like this. I bet you and Anne were bursting with pride and delight.

  31. Gail Wolfe Jun 16, 2011
    8:47 pm

    Wow, nothing like family. A beautiful picture of happiness.

  32. John Ryan Jul 4, 2011
    1:51 pm

    Hello Hyatt and Anne, Great to see the amazing and wonderful pictures you did of your grand children. I can’t think of a single person who isn’t blessed by what you do! May your legacy and family continue to receive all that the Lord has wonderfully prepared for each of you.

  33. NADIA Jul 14, 2011
    6:10 am

    Un joli portrait de famille on ressent de joie a le voir.

  34. Judie Hess Jul 14, 2011
    4:17 pm

    Lovely to see your adult children, who I remember as kids, and now their offspring. You are indeed abundantly blessed, as are they.