~I love my art collection and decided to share some of it with you.~
~These two pieces of art(above and below) were drawn by # ! Grandson. Yes, I said "art" ! Back in the old days I was a pre-school teacher. I actually went to school for the honor of being a pre-school teacher, and after taking a few classes on child development and children's art, I can tell you I am a great appreciator of children's art. And THIS is art. Can you not tell what he has portrayed here? Just watch him, with his tongue working around his mouth as he concentrates and carefully draws and colors his pieces. Just look at the details here. He loves animals, and draws things I usually don't notice. He knows his subjects and puts all of himself into his drawings. And I fully appreciate the care that goes into them. He does not just give away his art, you must be someone special enough for him to give you a piece of it, and only then, after he feels he can part with it. I think you can see his depiction of my ram and the ram pen, below.
~#5 Granddaughter has just really begun to express herself with drawing. This is her FIRST depiction of a person, and she chose to give it to me for my birthday. I am honored.
"A work of art is itself reflecting senses and emotions of the artist's world." AU
~Another piece of art by yet another granddaughter. She was so happy to be here with us, her grandparents ,that she spent the day drawing many, many pictures of happy people and putting my name on them. She rather liked writing my name even though she calls me 'grandma'."
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." Pablo Picasso
~A treasured birthday card from another granddaughter. This granddaughter draws and designs dresses for her dolls . She used to draw out recipes for me, before she could write words. Her drawn recipes were very clever and many of her drawings reflect a mind that works outside the box, and that totally fascinates me."
Only those who look with the eyes of children can lose themselves in the object of their wonder." Eberhard Arnold
~Now don't laugh, this was drawn especially for me, and the animals are either sheep or dogs, or horses. They are NOT mice! Or bugs....but aren't they cute ? "
The only time I feel alive is when I'm painting." Vincent Van Gogh
~"
art; whose object is to create form for its own sake..." Funk and Wagnalls New Standard Dictionary
~A lady I knew years ago would trace her children's drawings onto linen or muslin and then embroider them and frame the embroidered drawings and hang them on the walls of the living room. Really, the art was very nice and in fact, much nicer than a lot of the 'hotel art' you see in so many places. I do not have space to hang these precious creations, I don't even have wall space to hang family portraits...so I usually place the year's drawings in our family photo-journal. My mother saved some of my drawings and I am surprised at how much of me they revealed, and maybe one day the grandchildren will look into these photo journals and remember something special from their childhood. I know I will enjoy looking back at them.
Since my husband and I were first married in 1973, I have made lefse for our Christmas breakfast. This means I am usually up very late , or very early making lefse. I suppose this means it is a tradition for our family. Opening our presents on Christmas morning, with fresh brewed coffee at hand, a plate of lefse near-by, and plenty of butter and cinnamon & sugar to cover each piece of this very Norwegian food just adds to all we enjoy on Christmas morning.
Continuing many family traditions is a way of reminding ourselves of all that is important within a family, within a culture, within a history we deem important and well worth reminding our children and grandchildren of. Of all my husband and I hold dear, the one thing we would hope and pray is for our family, and especially our children and their children on down to many generations...remember, "..for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you; you will find the baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger." Luke 2:11,12 ( art by our granddaughter KN)
