My New Year's resolution (besides diet...-sigh-) is to take up art as a hobby again!
This piece has been sitting unfinished in my den for a lonnngggg time, too long and I need to want to finish it!
My love of art comes from my father who taught it in a high school. He painted and drew for most of his life. I remember as a small child watching him at an easel and being fascinated with what he was doing and most especially his large collection of pencils and paper. I still have that love of those things even now. The smell of paint, or graphite makes me happy.
This is one of his first pieces...Reims Cathedral (Notre-Dame de Reims) in France.
This is one that he painted of a sunflower...my mother's favorite flower.
This is a whimsical chicken he did that is in my cluttered kitchen...
-and this is a sailboat that I have on our staircase.
Inspired, I took lessons from two wonderful artists for a while. Barbara Statlander has pieces in the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and in a Connecticut gallery. She did this weather vane shortly before she died and I feel blessed to have it. Linda McFarlin, the country artist, did these Amish pieces.
She also did these Teddy Bears that I purchased when my children were small and had them in their rooms. They think I should have outgrown them, but I still love them and have them together as a collage of sorts.
Then I began collecting our children's work and framing them. I love this one that Chelsea did when she was in kindergarten.....
-and this one that she did in junior high which is in our bathroom.
This one was done by Tim, our son, one of his first too. (We had one we loved by his brother Mike from high school and he sold it to one of his friends!)
These are on the opposite wall of the bathroom...again by Chelsea.
This one I did after the classes....
-and this one....
-and this one.
To me, personal family art, no matter how bad, is special, brings back memories, and is a part of family history. Mostly, I enjoy doing it and so am resolved to begin...like the diet,...start again!!
22 comments:
Never miss an opportunity to create! Your love is waiting for you.
Pretty pictures! I like them all, especially the chicken in the kitchen:)
You definitely have a gift--nurture it in the new year, and then show us what you've done. I'd love to see your creativity in action....
Debi
That a girl! You have such talent and I'm really happy you're going to draw again...can I put in my request before you become famous?? I hope the kiddos take it up too..it's a shame to waste an opportunity to beautify the world!
yes you should get back to what makes you happy. sometimes life gets so busy that we forget to feed the soul.
cathy
What a fun talent. I love the primative types that you are dabbling in. I hope you have fun with the art goal. It will be much more fun the the dieting. I need to start that goal too (ugh!).
this is a wonderful post! I also have artwork on my walls from my children and family members who are artists.
Your father's artistry is brilliant. And it does run in the family as you showed.
yes! finish yours. It already looks great I can't wait to see it when it is done.
Beautiful drawings! And a very nice home. Great photos! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the peek inside your artful home...lots of love and activity going on in there :) Thank you for stopping by with your Star-key wishes (clever one!)
Here's to your new year of drawing and painting adventures!
very artistic...nice to learn about your dad! my fav color is blue too!
also like the top of the blog! SNOW!
hug the grandbabies for me too!
I agree about celebrating the talent in your family - framing the children's art work is a huge affirmation of their creativity and abilities.
I join the others is encouraging you to finish THIS piece and create several others this year! (I have a similar determination re. my "art" which is music.)
We've always told you that you are so artistic. Definitely enjoy your talent and post the results! Happy New Year!
Lovely pictures- all of them. I love the one of 'Notre Dame' created by your father. Follow your dream, your art work is very good.
Donna, we have a lot in common. I love family art and have it displayed everywhere too (Remember "Mona"?) Can't wait to see your new (and old!) work.
It's so great to see all this amazing art. And I can't think of a better way to start the new year than to honor the call of your heart, to follow a passion and gift that have been dormant for so long.
Love all of your art! The piece you are working on is incredible!
You guys are one talented family! I think it's great that you are going to get back into it. Sometimes as women, we stop doing things we love to nurture everyone else's needs. Good for you for doing something that makes you happy! I hope you will show us your latest project when you are finished!
What great creations! You certainly have an artistic spirit, sounds like it's part of your DNA! I say go for it! And have fun in the process, too! Have a very Happy and creative New Year!!
treasures said...
Thanks for sharing some of your family's and teacher's art around your home. How wonderful to have such art talent. My daughter's name is also Chelsey; she is now 25.
We attend Starting Grounds Church which is also a coffee shop and art gallery; so over the past two years, I have been learning about art.
Happy New Year!
~ Julie
I love this post Donna. What a talented family! I am like you...I have a few of those sitting in my cupboard and think someday...
The time will come, I know it. In the meantime, you MUST go back, I hope you do!
I loved the tour of your family art. We think the same way. I could tell a story about everything in our house. It is what makes a house a home :) Yours is beautiful Donna x
Jeanne xxx
Wow, great post Donna, love it! Hugs,
P.S> fixed the link come on back and enter the giveaway thank you for letting me know. :-)
Hi Donna. Very interesting site. Barbara Stadtlander is my sister. Glad to see your connection as a student of her's. John Swartz
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