What a beautiful essay! It makes me smile and now I want to go look at the wood carvings I have by my dad that he made in his retirement. Thank you for sharing your art!
I love this piece, David. As a visual artist, I often ruminate on the courage it takes for me to share my work with the world. Your father’s drawings are beautiful. I wish he’d had the encouragement and freedom to pursue art in a fuller way, including as a career choice. How different his life might have been!
I’m glad that you discovered his work and have shared it with your family and with us.
It does make me wonder how much creativity is out there, completely undiscovered. So glad you and your family can appreciate some of your dad's work. Sad, though, that life kept him from continuing his drawings.
Extremely touching piece. It's heartbreaking to read but you are SO fortunate to have those drawings, which are really quite exceptional. (I love the ones you share here!) As I read, I was hoping that you were going to say that you took a phone pic of the art on your grandmother's wall before it was painted over. It's tragic that (men, especially) of this time slot were rarely encouraged to pursue anything "artsy" and little value was attached to encouraging artistic talent in "regular people." (And saddest of all, he must have started believing that himself). Obviously I never met your father but I choose to think that he'd be absolutely thrilled - perhaps a little bashful - that you have re-discovered his work and that all of us today are benefitting! Thank you.
What a beautiful essay! It makes me smile and now I want to go look at the wood carvings I have by my dad that he made in his retirement. Thank you for sharing your art!
I just love that your grandmother painted around the drawings your dad did on his bedroom walls. That is something I would definitely do!
"Closeted by vulnerability."
How do you do that, Dave? Encapsulate the jist in one phrase?
My book of poetry, pubbed under a pseudonym, is absolutely that. Too vulnerable, so it stays under wraps. Thank you for your thoughtful words.
Love this post. One of my favorite things to do is refurbish old forgotten artwork with perhaps a new frame or matting! It comes alive!!
I'm sure your Dad would be delighted that his work lives on. He may not have ever said as much, but deep down he'd be honoured.
I love this piece, David. As a visual artist, I often ruminate on the courage it takes for me to share my work with the world. Your father’s drawings are beautiful. I wish he’d had the encouragement and freedom to pursue art in a fuller way, including as a career choice. How different his life might have been!
I’m glad that you discovered his work and have shared it with your family and with us.
Such treasures. And now generational as you’ve shared them with your sons. Love that you shared this with us.
Oh, this piece leaves me breathless and teary-eyed. What a tribute to your father and I'm so glad you've framed some of his lovely works. Thank you.
It does make me wonder how much creativity is out there, completely undiscovered. So glad you and your family can appreciate some of your dad's work. Sad, though, that life kept him from continuing his drawings.
Extremely touching piece. It's heartbreaking to read but you are SO fortunate to have those drawings, which are really quite exceptional. (I love the ones you share here!) As I read, I was hoping that you were going to say that you took a phone pic of the art on your grandmother's wall before it was painted over. It's tragic that (men, especially) of this time slot were rarely encouraged to pursue anything "artsy" and little value was attached to encouraging artistic talent in "regular people." (And saddest of all, he must have started believing that himself). Obviously I never met your father but I choose to think that he'd be absolutely thrilled - perhaps a little bashful - that you have re-discovered his work and that all of us today are benefitting! Thank you.
This is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.