Let me be clear — when it comes to drawing or painting I have zero talent. It’s something I always wished I could do, but what I lack our daughter makes up for. She comes by it honestly from my husband’s side of the family. The painting below was painted by someone on my husband’s mother’s family. Sadly, we aren’t sure who.
We also have two paintings that Bob’s maternal grandfather painted. His cousin from Brazil brought them to us when he visited about fifteen years ago and we treasure them!
Our daughter took oil painting classes in fourth and fifth grade. This is her very first painting:
These are a couple of others she did when she took the class. The Point Vincente lighthouse in Palos Verdes, California. She painted it from a picture I’d taken. And then the family portrait. A friend of ours said it captured our essence.
When she was in fifth grade we moved from Florida to Virginia. She was so sad as we drove away in the car. I suggested that she should write some poems to express her feelings. We ended up pairing her paintings and poems in a booklet to give away as Christmas presents.
She’s painted on and off ever since. We just celebrated her thirtieth birthday so here are a couple of her more recent paintings. I wish she had more time to paint.
She does all the chalk signs for the winery she works at and does them free hand. Here are two of them:
Readers: Do you or does someone in your family have an artistic streak when it comes to drawing and painting?
Sherry, your daughter’s work is gorgeous. Has she ever entered one of those art shows?
When I was younger I used embroidery and do counted crossstitch. It was always fun.
I used to do counted cross stitch too!
She definitely has a gift, Sherry! Does Bob do art, too? I kind of like drawing, but I don’t give it any time.
It skipped a generation as far as we know — I’m not sure he’s ever tried.
I love the artwork! My son and my grandson do. I am sometimes amazed at how well they do since I can’t even decorate a room in good colors! However, I truly think that everyone has some creative trait in them. Writers obviously! Needlework, woodwork, decorating, music, film making, and more.
I agree!
While I would love to say that I’m my family’s version of Bob Ross, I have no artistic talent whatsoever. My stick figure drawings sue me for defamation of character.
Laughing!
Your daughters artwork are beautiful. My brother Is the artistic one in our family but he does blacksmithing, though he does sketch out how a piece should look.
That is so cool! Well, perhaps hot!
Love the art work! My mother owns an art gallery in Freedom, NH and is a gifted painter. It skipped a generation and finally my youngest daughter ( the youngest of her grandchildren) is also a gifted artist. Phew! My mother was so happy to finally have someone to share the talk of paint hues and pencil types with!
Oh, wow! Now that’s a gift!
Your daughter is very talented!
Unfortunately, I have no drawing talent whatsoever. I always laugh and say I can’t draw a straight line without a ruler. So much so that when required to take art in school, I ended up trading my clown doll (which even then I am sure was collectible) to my art teacher in exchange for an A. At her suggestion, and later realized how bad and sad that situation was. However, hubby is a fabulous artist – especially in pencil or ink drawings showing the smallest detail. Sadly, he doesn’t do it very often and when he does it’s usually for a gift to someone meaning we have very few pieces showing his talent.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
That was a terrible thing for a teacher to do! I hope your husband will draw something for you!
I often joke that I couldn’t draw a straight line with a ruler. But my daughter has a wonderful artistic streak, especially with colored pencils and acrylics paints.
Oh, that is so interesting!
Lovely paintings by all of your family. Like you, I can’t draw anything recognizable. The closest I come to painting is refinishing furniture or the walls!
I’m not even very good at painting walls!
My mother was always interested in art and painted when she had the time (with 3 kids and a job, not much time). She hoped to do more when she retired but then got interested in ceramics and that was where she did her painting. She got rid of most of her paintings since she didn’t think they were very good, but I do have one that I rescued and love, which I passed on to my son. He is a talented woodworker and likes to draw, and my daughter is also interested in art. She took pottery classes in college and did some very nice pieces. All the talent bypassed me, I always thought it was unfair that I got none of it!
I’m so glad you rescued a painting.
Your daughter is very talented Sherry! My art hobby consists of coloring postcards. I can stay within the lines, but can’t formulate them. Ha!
That sounds like fun! I have a coloring book that I get out every once in a while.
Beautiful art work. I have NO artistic talent but my father did calligraphy along with a daughter and my husband. My mom painted ceramics and so dies my husband. I used to knit it basic afghans .
I think calligraphy is fascinating!
Gorgeous, Sherry. What a a talented daughter and talented family. I painted and drew until I left college, then for some reason it didn’t appeal. My dad was a fantastic artist – came from being an engineer, I think, and my brother turned his artistic talent into woodworking in his later years making duck decoys because, well, just because. Creativity runs in families, I think, and it clearly runs in yours.
It’s so interesting that you used to draw and paint! I guess writing took over!
I toy with the idea of watercolors. I used to use mostly charcoal and pastels
My sister-in-law is very artistic. As is my mom, but mom doesn’t really paint much. I don’t have the patience for it. Or the talent, but the patience really comes into play.
I think I could have all the patience in the world and still not be able to paint.
I so would like to be able to paint, but alas. My niece is an amazingly talented visual artist. She works hard at it, but also has great talent. Love this post!
Your neice is so talented!
Your daughter is so talented, Sherry. My mother and aunt are wonderful painters with very different styles. Unfortunately, I did not inherit that wonderful gene. I also wish I could sing!
Isn’t it weird how talents can be so hit and miss?!
I have no artistic talents with drawing or painting but can do almost any kind of needlework. I learned embroidery 70+ years ago when my mother started me on a blue ink stamped potholder from the 5 and dime store. I’ve since gone on to counted cross stitch, smocking, tatting, hardanger, silk ribbon embroidery, and making Japanese temari balls. I find any kind of needlework relaxing and try to do at leaast an hour a day.
Isn’t it an amazing world that we each have a different set of talents. I also try to read 2 or 3 hours an evening. So thanks to all you authors for providing us with so many interesting books!
I had to look up Japanese temari balls! They are stunning. I remember using those kind of embroidery patterns years ago and have done different needlework on and off. I should try something again.
My husband does draw. He used to paint but as he ages, his hands are not as steady and functional as they used to be. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
I so admire that talent! Bless you too!