June 8, 2017

GRANDMA'S ART: AN UNERRING EYE


Grandma’ Maudie’s three crows. The two outside birds are chewing out the chagrined middle bird.  An illustration for a book in the upstairs bathroom.

One of you asked me to post some of my mother and grandmas art.  I have none of my mother’s drawings hanging right now.  I own only a few of her amusing little watercolors, but right now none are rotated onto the upstairs walls. 

I was an only child.  In 1948, after cancer surgery for colon cancer, mother was told that she would die.  She made every effort to teach me how to live often harshly with a bread board.  She wanted me to be able to survive without her.  My grandma never judged me.

Both graduated from college, and both ended as working artists.  Mother was the artist and art director of a printing company.  She created it to bring in an income after my father’s alcoholism took over.  Grandma sold portraits by word of mouth so she had enough to eat every day.  Her money vanished on medical bills to keep my grandpa alive in an age of poor insurance coverage.

I thought I would share a few of grandma’s pastilles.  She also wrote two books and illustrated them.  She was always working using her old dining room table as her drawing board.  Pastilles were expensive, and she used her colors till there weren’t even nubs left.  Her hands shook badly, but her art never wavered.


Back stair art: The good small pieces that have been rotated out right now.  Grandma did the decanter in pastilles.
 


Upstairs Hall:  Three portraits:  Top, Horace Gunthorp.  Middle: Margaret Gunthorp as a child.  Bottom: T. E. Barnum.


                                                                    

  • Himself:  He loves pushing the numbers around on his job, but after work he lets work go.  Knee vastly better.  Today CT scan.
  • Herself:  Dressed, reading, and typing early.  Write, tidy, sew on G’s costume.  He’s to be a character from “Fall Out”…a video game.
  • Reading:  Taking a break from politics and reading one of the Bosch mysteries.
  • Gratitude’s:  That I can help.


  • 14 comments:

    1. Beautiful work and done in pastilles. Talented woman, Mage.

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    2. Those are lovely and you are so lucky to have them.

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    3. The portraits are my favorite as that is the hardest to do, capturing both the reality and the essence of a person.

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      1. You can't see the details, but the crows are such characters. She caught the personalities in the portraits tho. And too, look at my chin...long gone.

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      1. That whole family of four girls were all artists in different fields. One wove, one worked in ceramics, one was a librarian, and grandma drew. Thank you.

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    5. It seems you came from a life designed to build strength. Wonderful that you have managed to keep some of her art work. Priceless.

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      1. Yes, it is delightful, and I have portfolios full in the garage too. Thank you.

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    6. Love the art and that you are an artist in a long line of women artists. A counselor I quit seeing hauled out that old line, "what doesn't kill us makes us stronger." Helluva away to grow as a child in my experience. Love you Mage.

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    7. Really heart warming story of love, and family. Well done for keeping the artworks alive, greetings!

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    8. My goodness... what a family you have. And to have such a strong background of art coming to you (and through you) is just wonderful. Now I know why you're such an excellent artist. "It's in the genes!!!" LOL I've missed you these past two weeks -- I know I need to get back to writing. Hugs to you and admiration, for you're always here and you are always sharing. Love it and you...

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    9. So you had art genes built into you from the start! So much incredible talent!

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    postcards

    Celebration of Life