Jean Peterson Sinnott

                                                 83 days until the 50th Reunion
                                                                                                                                                              Next on our pre-reunion photo cavalcade is a post almost a year in the making because of some technical difficulties. Jean's husband, Richard, was able to solve the problems. Jean had first taken drawing lessons about ten years ago but only started painting in 2008 when she enrolled in an  art class at a favorite art gallery conducted by the owner/artist. Her chosen medium has always been oil because "it really lets you play with color and texture."

Her first painting is The Train. It's from an old photograph belonging to her husband, Richard.  Trains are his hobby and the painting was done as a surprise gift for him. It's of a NYC bound PRR train at the Rahway station.

This painting is from a photo in one of Jean's favorite English garden magazines.

An early still life done with sunflowers she received from Kroger and a vase from her daughter Laura.

An English cottage photo re-creation.














Last, my personal favorite, for some inexplicable reason, painted from a photo taken in 1994 on her first trip to San Francisco.

The Golden Gate Bridge

All in all, some very nice stylized work done by Jean, especially when you consider that she's only been at it for four years. She has her own art room downstairs at home and when her granddaughter, Reagan, comes to visit "we love to paint together."  Jean's brother, Dick, has been an artist for many years so Reagan probably has inherited genes.

 As to why she only started painting later in life Jean says, "I just never thought I could do it. I really think that anyone who wants to can learn. Try it, you may be pleasantly surprised!" We might recall back in our day a certain, Grandma Moses, who only began painting in her late seventies.

There can be no doubt that the gifts Jean is most proud of are all in the photo below taken last Thanksgiving at her home. They just happened to be surrounded by a few of her paintings.

Seated R to L: Jean's son, Steve, holding his son, Ryan. Steve's wife, Diane, with the budding artist, Reagan. Daughter, Laura, with, Isabelle. Laura's husband, Scott, with, Kennedy.("The twins are walking, holding on. They are doing so well.") Standing: Jean's husband, (and chief photographer), Rich, holding, Lily, their Cavalier King Charles, and, Jean, holding Laura and Scott's son, Christian. Jean adds that Reagan and Ryan had a great time playing with the twins and Christian in the pool on Father's Day.

Jean and Richard Sinnott

Jean is eagerly awaiting the Reunion. " We will have such fun." Looks like she's already starting without us.

Photo credits: Richard Sinnott

Richard did an excellent job squaring up Jean's paintings and photographing them for this post. That is not easy to do.