When my father passed away in May, my sisters and I sorted through a few of his things and kept those that were special to us. Dad had pictures on his dresser of all of us from when we were children. The round frame is my mother and I with a lock of my hair. The oval frame is tied into today's Either Or word- original.
I was always a "doodler". Apparently I loved to draw on anything as my parents discovered when we moved out of my childhood home. They found several drawings on the wall behind dressers and in closets! At some point I learned that paper was better for artwork! I remember in Junior High I loved the drawings of Joan Walsh Anglund, so I endeavored to learn her style by placing a sheet of blank paper over her drawings and copying her pictures. Eventually I ventured forth on my own and made up my own pictures in my own style with pen and ink and watercolors. I drew pictures for cards, for fun, for decoration and for gifts. The oval frame holds one of my "masterpieces" which I gave to my mother and Dad kept on his dresser after she died. In High School I started putting a little daisy and bumblebee on the back of my cards with the tag, "An AH original" (my logo like Hallmark). It stuck with my friends too- some still call me the "AH original". And so it seemed appropriate to post this shot and tell you that story today!
I love this composition ... it's so full of memories!! I'm a softie for "originals," and this is loaded with some. The baby pic and piece of hair are so beautiful. Your little piece of art is wonderful!! And your talent for art also shows up in your photography! I used to love drawing and also started on watercolors. But then the camera came along (late in life!) and it's now my passion. We have some love for similar things, Ann.
@welcometocarolworld Thank you Carol! I will have to look for that under the tag. It sounds so sweet! Yes- there are some things in life that are very circular. @karenann Thank you Karenann! Yes, I think we do have a lot of things in common. I haven't drawn like that in years, but I still doodle on scrap paper!
Your drawing of the little blonde sitting on the beach is so good - got all the proportions right and the sweep of hair too! I'm not suprised your Dad kept these things - sad that they are no longer loved by him but great that you can keep them!
@maggiemae Thank you Maggie! I do miss him (and my mother too), but I know he's better off where he is now! It means a lot to me that I was always "his little girl" and that he looked at these each day. Death cannot take away his love for me, nor mine for him.
What a wonderful story, Ann. Seeing your art work and your baby picture (complete with lock of hair) gives us a peek into your life. It is a lovely presentation.
You are very talented even as a young girl..no wonder you're so good at photography. your arrangement of the two pictures is really beautiful..it would make a nice framed picture to have on display. they are such a wonderful. I wish I had some keepsakes from you mom or dad..
@bruni Thank you Bruni! I am very sentimental when it comes to family things. And I wish that I had discovered photography and been nurtured in it much earlier. I think I could have made a go out of a career with it if I'd discovered it sooner.
@bruni This is true- but first I need a camera that has some meat on it! And if I ever can afford to buy one, I do plan to see if I can sell in galleries or craft fairs. Thanks for believing in me! @tanja_1211 Thank you Tanja! I did enjoy drawing, but I think I'm a much better photographer!
What a great story and Picture! I love the picture of you and your mom Ann..I love the composition so much! Your Art work shows how talented you where and still are! I was alot like you as a child, drawing, painting, copying ect were my favorite things to do...and then graduated to photography and quitar playing...My Great Uncle was an artist in N.Y.C. all of his life and every Christmas he would bring me a brand new set of charcoals or pastels ,drawing pads ect..and he would teach me...i guess that is when i learned to love art...thanks for sharing this wonderful memory of your mom and dad! Your definitly an original! :)
@lyno Thank you Lyn. I'm glad to hear that those words were a comfort to you Lyn. I truly believe them. We will be walking a similar path in the coming year (you will too Ellen @ellimae ) as we've all experienced the loss of a parent. But we can take comfort in knowing they have nothing but peace and the joy of being in the Lord's presence and also in the wonderful memories of the lifetime we had with them. Love lives on.
Thank you Ellen! You are so kind to say that! I have done a number of artistic things through the years (also played guitar!) but wish I'd settled on photography sooner. But if I am able to get a "big girl camera" at some point I intend to be much more intentional about it. Your uncle must have been a fascinating man!
What fantastic memories to have, great keepsakes. You have captured them beautifully. Your commentary is also very heartfelt and something very dear for you to hold onto.
What a great story, Ann! Love the drawing. It's pretty, and makes such a lovely keepsake. This shot is wonderful for all the great memories it holds for you. Lovely processing, too. 8)
What a wonderful souvenir that round frame must be for you - complete with a lock of your hair! I'm sure you'll treasure if for all your life. Beautiful shot and composition.
@salza Thank you Sally! I'm very sentimental that way! @myautofocuslife Thank you Livia! I wanted something soft and old for the processing and because the natural lighting of the shot was hard to brighten in post processing, I decided to go the softening route again. To add to the nostalgia I put it in sepia but painted back in the color of the main subjects. Glad you liked the effect. @sangwann Thanks Dione- yes, I'm glad I have it. @alia_801 Thank you Alia! Dad had another, larger one I did too which I hope to give to my granddaughter at the end of this month. @httpgeffed Thanks Colleen! I hope your back is on the mend.
Yesterday I had to choose between removing one of my brother's pictures or one of my Dad's from my office. I chose to keep Dad's, because he is no longer with me. I like having a piece of him in my office where I use skills he taught me. Brother gets to come home for the hallway here. Tough being in 365 and always comparing myself against the two 'real' photographers in my family. Brother says I'm doing great, though.
Awww, I love this and the beautiful story behind it. I didn't know you were an artist other than photography. I love the drawing and that's so special that your dad still had it out. :-) I really like the setting and how you shot it :-)
Thank you, Thank you and Thank you! Thank you Carole! I don't consider my doodles as art, but artistic- if that makes any sense. I'm no Rembrandt! Thank you for the fav Andy! Wow- this shot is sentimental to me! Thank you Vickie! Not so much an artist as a doodler! I would say artistic, but not necessarily as talented as a classical painter. I shot this one in color, changed it to sepia and then erased out the effect for the selective coloring. I also softened it for that nostalgic, vintage feel.
What a beautiful story and a lovely shot of the items that are dear to you. And you are an "AH original" because there is no other like you! Excellent photo. Well done, Ann!
well, look at you and your "doodle" masterpiece. i love the soft dreamy feel you created with the selective colouring. perfect! and the story is quite interesting. i think we are all artists in one way or another; but usually we never give a chance for it to surface. great shot, ann.
@summerfield Thank you Vikki! I agree with you whole-heartedly. I have often said to people in science and math that it takes just as much creativity in their fields to do what they do, but sometimes they just don't get it! I love the coloring on this one too- it was the first time I'd done it with sepia instead of black and white. @wenbow thank you Wendy!
October 18th, 2012
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@hudamor Thanks Huda!
@karenann Thank you Karenann! Yes, I think we do have a lot of things in common. I haven't drawn like that in years, but I still doodle on scrap paper!
@henrir Thank you Henri!
@ulpiphotos Thank you Ulpi!
@digitalrn Thank you Rick!
@chrismarfil Thank you Chris!
@sarasdadandmom Thank you Terry!
@tanja_1211 Thank you Tanja! I did enjoy drawing, but I think I'm a much better photographer!
Thank you Ellen! You are so kind to say that! I have done a number of artistic things through the years (also played guitar!) but wish I'd settled on photography sooner. But if I am able to get a "big girl camera" at some point I intend to be much more intentional about it. Your uncle must have been a fascinating man!
@myautofocuslife Thank you Livia! I wanted something soft and old for the processing and because the natural lighting of the shot was hard to brighten in post processing, I decided to go the softening route again. To add to the nostalgia I put it in sepia but painted back in the color of the main subjects. Glad you liked the effect.
@sangwann Thanks Dione- yes, I'm glad I have it.
@alia_801 Thank you Alia! Dad had another, larger one I did too which I hope to give to my granddaughter at the end of this month.
@httpgeffed Thanks Colleen! I hope your back is on the mend.
Thank you, Thank you and Thank you! Thank you Carole! I don't consider my doodles as art, but artistic- if that makes any sense. I'm no Rembrandt! Thank you for the fav Andy! Wow- this shot is sentimental to me! Thank you Vickie! Not so much an artist as a doodler! I would say artistic, but not necessarily as talented as a classical painter. I shot this one in color, changed it to sepia and then erased out the effect for the selective coloring. I also softened it for that nostalgic, vintage feel.
@prttblues Thank you Bev! I think we're all originals in our own way Bev- variety is the spice of life!
@wenbow thank you Wendy!