Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Portraits

As some of you know my mother was an artist. For many years she did only oil landscapes. It wasn't until she was much older that she attempted portraits of people. Why she waited so long I really don't know unless she just thought she couldn't do it. She was the queen of self doubt when it came to her painting talent. I always told her I wish I had just a smidgen of your talent. Once she started painting portraits she couldn't stop. She painted her children, grandchildren and my dad and other members of our family.She also did self portraits of herself that my sister and I have in our homes.

                                            
These two portraits are of my mother and dad when they were 26 years old. She painted these pictures using their wedding photos as a guide.

                                              Self portrait of my mother sometime in her eighties.

                                                             Portrait of me at age 40.

                                                             My sister in her thirties.

My sister has her share of portraits in her home as well. We cherish these paintings and hopefully our children will too. Painting was a passion for my mother and if she had had more time in this world she'd still be at it. Who knows, she may still be painting where she is now and I wonder WHO is getting their portrait painted.

Christine

Postnote:
My mother also had a sense of humor. The drawings below my mother drew in pencil of some pretty funny characters.


                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                               
                                                 Aren't these guys cute!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Your Mom was an awesome artist! What a treasure you and Liz have!

Oklahoma Granny said...

Wonderful artist!

Anonymous said...

Your mother is an extremely talented artist and I'm sure she is painting Peter, James or John :)
The two older guts are cute too

JacksDad said...

Very very nice. I especially like the self-portrait!

Anonymous said...

Your mother was so talented.

Anonymous said...

That last guy looks like someone you once dated! :)

Sis

Vee said...

Your mom was being way too hard on herself. She had a great deal of talent and I can certainly see why these portraits are treasures. The last two are funny...do you know who they are supposed to represent or are they pure imagination?

Christine said...

Vee- Those last two were from her imagination. Sis- You have a wicked sense of humor!

countryliving said...

Wow, what talent! Great treasures.

Anonymous said...

I'm smitten with the last two. Great illos.