Friday, May 02, 2008

An old painting

I don't have many old art works around but a friend sent this to me last week. I'd given it to her a number of years ago. She is downsizing in order to move and since it was painted from a photo of my Dad reading to me, she thought I might want it back. In that painting cycle I painted everyone's heads too big. I know from experience though, if I try to correct it I ruin the painting. Now it hangs in my Dad's old workshop that I am using for a studio. My favorite part is the girl's shoes.

15 comments:

Roxanne said...

I like how she's sitting on the arm of the chair. That's how I used to sit when my parents used to read ... and now how my nieces sit when I read to them :) (except sometimes they fall on me, and I make us all go sit on the couch instead)

Lynn Cohen said...

What a wonderful memory piece of your art to come full circle home to your home and your dad's work shop/your art studio!
I look at some of my art and hope it does not sell as I want to keep it...another part wants it to sell...but if it later were to come back to me...wouldn't that be grand too.
This piece warms my heart...reminds me of my dad reading me the Sunday comics sitting in his big wing back chair, when I was about that same little girl age (which my daughter still has btw).
(I should invite her twins to sit on it's arms and read to them there).

Elizabeth said...

I'm glad you got your painting back.
It must bring good memories.
What a treasure trove of art materials.
Nothing so exciting as potential......
All best wishes

Mim said...

Isn't it interesting how we learn and grow over time? I also like her shoes, and despite your concerns about the heads, it's a lovely painting with wonderful colors.

sukipoet said...

Thanks Honor. I think the image itself is what appealed to my friend too, re: her Dad reading to her. Hurrah for reading out loud.

Lynn, unfortunately I've never sold a painting. Well one, when I was going to give it away and she insisted on paying me some money. Mostly, I give them away. The artwork/craftwork wise things I've sold most of a cards, handbound books and handmade paper wallhangings.

I like to get rid of my stuff quickly one way or the other so I often burden people by giving them away.

Elizabeth, yes I've always loved both art supplies and writing supplies. Yep, send me to Staples and I'm happy.

Mim thanks. I like the colors too.
Thanks everyone for your reflections on this painting. Namaste, Suki

Mary Richmond said...

what a sweet little painting--i love it! and i love that it came home....full circle and all that ;-)

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

What a charming painting. How sweet that she did give it back to you instead of give it to goodwill or something, which I fear some of mine may have gone to. lol But I did get one back I did years ago and I have purposly kept some of my older ones. They all have a charm of their own and I find bits of myself in them from a certain time period. Thanks for sharing.

human being said...

one of the most beautiful scenes of the world... and your rendition is so alive and impressive...
love their postures... and the shoe... it has got a character in this painting...

it should be amazing to get back one of your works....

Anonymous said...

The memories, emotions and small details of the painting are it's beauty. Heads too big? Heads too small? I didn't even notice. - No correction is necessary.

sukipoet said...

Chewy, yes it's the memories and emotions that I try to capture in the paintings of people I do. Thanks for saying that.

Cris, I can't imagine any of your paintings going to a thrift store. They would be handed down in the family more likely. Thanks for saying the painting is charming.

Mary, thanks for your reflections too. I always like to hear how people react to my work.

Human Being, yes reading a story to a child, a world-wide activity that is so lovely. To instill the love of books and reading in our children is one of the more important grown-ups tasks and one of the most pleasurable.

Elizabeth said...

A totally charming painting!
Really Lovely,full of love, and the heads are fine - the whole painting reminds me of someone famous, Chagall I tink.

Andrea and Kim said...

Suki!

I really love this a lot! And I like the heads big...I have a big head! :)

The greatest treasure is the image of your Dad reading to you!

I agree, the shoes are great.

This adventure of looking at old work is incredible...I love it!

Thank you so much and thank your friend!

sukipoet said...

thanks for your comments Kim.

soulbrush said...

what an interesting piece of work. we are often so dismissive of our past stuff, but i am so glad that you have hung it. really like the 'fond' look of his face.

sukipoet said...

thanks FY My dad was ever my champion throughout my life. I miss him very much. Suki