My Father’s Art
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” Pablo Picasso
During the pandemic in 2020, I cleaned out a lot of things at my childhood home. Throughout the process, I came across sentimental artifacts my grandmother saved and passed along to my father. Two booklets of my father's artwork from second and third grade were among the items. These drawings were made while he attended the Theodore Parker School on Church Street in Roslindale. These were all done when my father was between the ages of 7-8 years old, around 1950. I was pleasantly surprised when I found my father's drawings—I had no idea he had this talent! A part of me wants him to start drawing again—he's turning 81 soon—never too late to start a new hobby?
I am highlighting some of my favorites and including all of them in the gallery below.
One of my favorites, is of course, a vase of flowers. I can never get enough of flowers. I am impressed my father did this beautiful watercolor at such a young age.
This watercolor painting makes me want to know where Sam's Market was. I love the perspective here, guessing it was fall when he made this (because of the pumpkin).
I love this painting because I imagine my father thinking of his family going on a road trip or his parents leaving for a vacation.
This one, made me laugh out loud when I first saw it. I still get a kick out of it, to be honest. Is it a ghost-monster hybrid? Must have been a Halloween-themed "assignment."
I had to call attention to this crayon drawing. It's the subject matter that is important—B.L. Makepeace, Inc. was a reprographics and surveying company that my grandfather worked at and eventually owned. My father also worked there.
Below is the entire gallery; click on the image to enlarge. Which are your favorites?
I'm so thankful that my grandmother saved my father's drawings—and that he actually kept them in tact all these years. My advice is to save your children's drawings so that they can one day be passed down to future generations. They'll appreciate it, I promise.