Hello, Great Readers of our series! Just in case you haven’t visited before, let me tell you a little about A Great Nephew and A Great Aunt. My great nephew, Landon (a fifth-grader) and I (his great aunt) collaborate. I write a poem which he illustrates. We started this collaboration last fall and have had so much fun with it that we decided to invite others along. Landon and I will continue to have a new episode on the second Friday of each month. The other Fridays are filling up quickly with guests. I have created a page on my website to view all the episodes of A Great Nephew and a Great Aunt. Click HERE to visit the page and enjoy past episodes.
Today I’m thrilled to have a double-the-fun episode with . . .
Renée LaTulippe and her 5-year old twin sons, Claudio and Lorenzo
This is what Renée had to say about the collaboration with her twins:
Last summer, my twins took a painting class. The two pieces here are those that were shown in their first public art exhibit.
More from Renée about her collaboration with Claudio:
My sensitive boy, Claudio, mixed these haunting colors on his own, added his special trees, and titled it “The Islands.” I imagine it was inspired by the view of Elba Island that we enjoy from our town in Italy, but the mood is all his.
“The Islands” by Claudio
Renée’s Claudio-inspired Poem
And more from Renée about her collaboration with Lorenzo:
The following is a poem inspired by one of my joyous-yet-concerned Lorenzo’s many drawings of oblivious dinosaurs.
“The Dinosaur” by Lorenzo
Renée’s Lorenzo-inspired Poem
I don’t know about you, but I would love to have an original Claudio or Lorenzo painting framed for my refrigerator. I’m sure Renée has a whole gallery. Lucky her 🙂
Meet Renée: Renée has co-authored nine award-winning early readers (Moonbeam Children’s Books Silver Award, Mom’s Choice Gold Awards), a collection of poetry titledLizard Lou: a collection of rhymes old and new (Moonbeam Children’s Books Silver Award for poetry), and the workbook All About Homophones (Finalist, IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards) for All About Learning Press, where she is also the editor. She also has poems published in The Poetry Friday Anthology Middle School, Science, and Celebrations editions (ed. Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong), and in the forthcoming anthologies The National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry (ed. J. Patrick Lewis) and One Minute Till Bedtime (ed. Kenn Nesbitt). Renée is thrilled that her twin boys Lorenzo and Claudio share her creative proclivities, and can usually be found drawing, singing, inventing, wearing capes, and going to music lessons. They recently made their theatrical debut in Pisa and brought the house down with their momentous performances as two of Snow White’s dwarfs (Renée may have invented the “brought the house down” part). When not making stuff, Renée and her boys love to splash in the Mediterranean and observe dung beetles on the beach. Because who doesn’t like that?
Find out more about Renée.
Blog: No Water River
Facebook Page
Twitter
Thanks to Jone at Check it Out for hosting the Poetry Friday Roundup this week. Head on over and delight in poetry!
Those paintings are BEAUTIFUL! And I love the poems, too.
LikeLike
Wow! The Twins’ personalities really show themselves in the paintings. I love Renee’s accompanying poems (even if the boys are not impressed). 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, Renee–this makes my idealistic, romantic heart swoon. Your boys–painting. Mother’s lovely poems–interpreting. (And I chuckled at your comment about their poetry critiques!) We’ve got bella buona Italia as a backdrop. This is a slice of nostalgic, poetic family heaven. Great post, Penny and Renee!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is utterly amazing! I love both of the art, and both of the poems! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Utterly amazing is true, Erik! Thanks for stopping by!
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are wonderful Renée, Claudio and Lorenzo! I love both the island and the dinosaur. The dinosaur one made me laugh. Poor unsuspecting dinosaurs! Thank you Renée and Penny!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for coming by, Stacy 🙂
LikeLike
What beautiful expressions of creativity! Well done all around from misty islands to chomping, stomping dinosaurs to lyrical language. LOVELY!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Laura! It’s definitely another treasure of an episode!
LikeLike
Thanks to all for the lovely comments! I had so much fun putting this post together. It made me realize how much inspiration I can find in all the things the boys’ create. 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
I was pretty sure Renee’s week would be fabulous, but still WOW!
LikeLiked by 2 people
She always delivers doesn’t she, Lauri? WOW and beyond!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have had twins in my classes before, and definitely they are always unique persons, just like these creative and wonderfully different paintings from Claudio and Lorenzo. Love this, Penny. You’re right, would be wonderful to have prints from each. The poems are lovely words of thoughtful and boisterous boys!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have twin great nieces (Landon’s sisters) and I agree, they are always unique persons with unique gifts.
LikeLike
Love the paintings. And the poems that Renee wrote match the tone of the art exactly. What a wonderful family time here at your blog Penny. The twins are adorable. Renee, brava.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Robyn! Renée is great at setting a tone/mood with her words. What a gift she has!
LikeLike
This was fun when it was just you and your nephew, but now…WOW!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Mary Lee. I can’t find the words to express how much fun I’m having!
LikeLike
So much fun, Renee! Such different personalities in your twins! Love the paintings and poems!:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for coming by BJ! I love the way each painting reflects the personality of its creator.
LikeLike
Charming!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
So much love and pride evident here! Great job to all!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I agree! Thanks for stopping by, Carrie!
LikeLike
Wonderful! I certainly hope Renee keeps up the collaborative collections with Claudio and Lorenzo! I’ll take a bound collection – PLEASE!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Knowing Renée the collaboration is guaranteed! Thanks for joining us today, Julie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love how the colors and word choice are a perfect match. High five!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Me too, Keila. The colors for each piece are perfection!
LikeLike
Wonderful post. Love the poems and love the paintings. Thanks for these.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Glad you enjoyed this wonderful episode. And thanks for following the series 🙂
LikeLike
Three cheers for Lorenza, Claudio and Renee! The artwork and poems are wonderful.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for following the series, Robin! This is a triple-treat episode 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love love love! *thunderous applause* Bravo, Brava, Bravo, Brava! Such a beautiful, creative family :).
LikeLiked by 2 people
I second the thunderous applause!
LikeLike
Super adorable!! I would love to watch dung beetles on the beach while Elba appears and disappears in mists. Here, I have snow, ice and more snow. I love the art work and collaboration. The mulberry sky especially. So much more appealing than a mackerel sky. And the dino, in such danger, happily unaware. That’s deep. What charmers your boys are. Many joys and lots of magic to all of you. It inspires me to try this with my 6 year old daughter. Why not? 🙂 Regards, Brenda
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Brenda! And yes – do try this with your little girl. I’m so glad Penny asked me to do this post because it made me take a closer look at their paintings and all that went into them. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
My daughter made a shamrock at a glass workshop, and then she started filling the space with pink circles and blue lines. At first I thought they were jumbled and confusing-looking, and I wanted her to keep it simple, but then I asked her, what are those? She told me they are the sunset, and I got it. A lot is going on in their heads when they make art.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh, cool. Yes, I learned not to interfere in their creative process — they have a whole plan already worked out. I love asking them about their creations when they’re done. The explanations are so imaginative and kind of humbling sometimes. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! They are quite amazing.
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by Brenda. Your daughter’s shamrock sunset sounds beautiful!
LikeLike
It turned out beautiful. I just hope the glass lasts. Some kid projects are so transitory.
LikeLike
Bravissimo! Love the paintings. Love the poems (what a tough audience your boys are! Some day they will be impressed.)
LikeLiked by 2 people
I agree, Buffy! Some day they’ll be impressed and the poems will be a treasure.
LikeLike
Spellbinding! What complex and beautiful talents, all three! Renée, you captured the mood of both of these artworks exquisitely. Man oh man, you must be proud of those boys! Forget the refrigerator, Penny, I want signed limited editions for my family room! (This series totally rocks!)
LikeLiked by 2 people
I really am considering framing those islands. The mood just kills me.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re right, Michelle! Signed limited editions…that’s the way to go!
LikeLike
I love this series of teaming family members together. The twins’ artwork is so much mood and individuality in these paintings! And Renee’s poems match them to perfection!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Joanna. Since I love both poetry and picture books it’s a nice celebration of both. Poems tell a story and the accompanying art brings the rest of the story. And in come cases (like today’s episode) the art inspires the story. Either way it’s pure giddiness for me!
LikeLike
I am hugging my computer. Simply a delight, all around! Thank you, Penny, for these family celebrations you host here.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for stopping by Amy! This series makes me so happy. I look forward to receiving the emails that include the poems, artwork, and photos. It’s always so exciting to see the collaboration and what they have to share.
LikeLike
^*^*^ Standing ovation! ^*^*^*^*
LikeLiked by 2 people
Extra bows from the LaTulippes!
LikeLike
Penny, thank you so much for inviting us to take part in this wonderful series! The boys are excited (though slightly confused) to see their paintings on the computer. They didn’t seem to care for my poems, though. 😀
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks for being a part of it, Renée! I imagine it is a bit confusing to see their paintings on the screen 🙂 Well, I LOVE your poems and they’ll love them someday!
LikeLike
I agree- such talent in the family! Those are very sophisticated paintings from such little tykes. And Renee? Well, we all know she is amazing!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Iza! Lorenzo definitely had some help from the art teacher, but my artist Claudio did his on his own. I was rather taken aback by it myself. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes she is and she is passing amazingness on to future generations!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Beautiful! Just Beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You said it, Rebecca….so much talent in one family!!!! WOW!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So much talent in one family! I loved the two different moods of the paintings and poems, and your poems matched their work perfectly. I want to know two things though: how did you superimpose your poems onto their artwork and how in the world did you find time to write two more poems while in the midst of the March Poetry Madness tournament?! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Rebecca! I just used Photoshop to put text on a piece of their paintings. And you’ll note that these are very short and simple poems — that’s how! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I need to learn how to use Photoshop. And short or not, I’m still super impressed!
LikeLiked by 1 person