Here in the USA, my future son-in-law is one of those who is out and about
setting out flags for the celebration of Memorial Day this weekend,
to honor and remind us of those who
gave their lives
so that we can enjoy the freedom
that we do today.
Flags, buildings, pictures, songs, enactments, foods, and paintings...
can all be reminders or memorials.
Southern journalist, Don Lee Keith is no doubt much to blame for my interest in watercolor memorial painting.
In my mid teens one summer day I sat on a beach in Pennsacola, Florida, trying to learn how to
play a ukelele I had just been given.
Handsome, Don Lee, nine years my senior (and now deceased) strolled up
to where I was sitting and plopped himself on the sand to chat.
He revealed he was a columist for the Times-Picayune in New Orleans, Louisiana.
In the following years we corresponded a few times and he sent me some samples of the
humorous column he then wrote. When he wrote the book, The World of Rolland Golden,
in 1970, I got a copy of the book signed by both Don Lee
and the southern watercolorist, Rolland Golden.
I was then and still am fascinated with Mr. Golden's artistry.
In July, 1975, when God enabled my husband and me to meet our future adopted son in Seoul, South Korea,
we were also invited to the home of Taiwanese novelist and water colorist Wang Lan in Taipei, Taiwan.
Wang Lan gave us a signed copy of his book Wang Lan Watercolor Paintings which I would love to show you.
But, respecting their copyrights, I can not show you the prints I have of either man's work. However, their styles
bring to my mind words such as impressionism, abstractism, and surrealism.
In my blogging explorations I currently enjoy viewing the artistry
Creating memorials is a part of the very fiber of being human, I think.,
whatever medium we choose for expression,
From time to time I like to unleash the six-year-old within me
to exercise her primitive memorial making calling
with watercolor painting.
My imaginary ocean in this picture reminds me
of many of the Saylorish things I celebrate in this blog:
faith, family, friends, freedom.
(see the reflection of me taking a picture of my picture(: ?)
What memorials are you creating today?
Hi Gracie! How sweet of you to add my link, and to enjoy my watercolors! I have an idea.. how about you and I doing an art day and painting together one of these days soon. Well, as soon as I get back from DC. (You have 2 s's in my last name, there is only 1:-)) As for memorials, hubby and I will be cleaning and shining up my dads bronze plaque at Evergreen Memorial park on Sunday. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteOoooops, sorry! I have now deleted the extra s in Kasner, Teresa. (: Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
DeleteI would love to paint with you some day soon! Please email/call me to suggest a date, time and place that would be good for you.
When I visited the DC area when I was 8 I was so impressed with the White House, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, etc that I still have vivid memories of them. Visiting Jefferson's Monticello, Mt. Vernon, and Gettysburg are also wonderful memories. I look forward to seeing your trip through your camera lens and words!
Hope you have sun for your Sunday Memorial activities! <3
Lovely post today. How interesting that you have been exposed to such amazing talent. I love Vanessa' and of course Teresa's work. I follow another blog I think you would love, Monica at thewhitebench.com. She is an amazing artist. I am cleaning and weeding today, ah what fun.
ReplyDeleteMeredith
Meredith! Thanks for sending me to Monica's blog! I did enjoy it AND I checked her blog roll and was stunned by all the artistic sites she listed. It will take a long while to check them all out, but what fun! In her list of publications where she has been published [all new to me] was the magazine, Artful Blogging which I also checked out. Bravo for your weeding and cleaning!
DeleteEnjoyed reading your interesting post. I also admire Teresa's work.I will go and have a look at the work of the other artists you mention. Anne x
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind comments, Anne. I hope all is well with you and yours <3
DeleteBeautiful post, Gracie!! Lovely painting as well. I've never heard of a watercolor memorial painting before. But I do enjoy impressionism, abstractism and surrealism so I will have to look these artists up. Thank you for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat I was trying to say is that painting/artwork in general can be means to create memorials, or reminders of something we want to honor or celebrate or avoid or eliminate.
DeleteThanks for your kind comments <3
Well, how very interesting for you to have met both of those talented people. Your watercolor is fabulous! I admire Teresa's work all the time. Why, even when we play Draw Something back and forth on our ipads!!! She truly is a terrific artist. And a wonderful person too.
ReplyDeleteI am remembering all of the men and women who have served and are serving our great country!!!!
Happy Memorial Day to you!!
XO Kris
Thank you Kris for your kind comments.
DeleteDraw Something is a game I have not tried, but Teresa has mentioned that she enjoys it too(:
I hope you and yours are having a great day!
Gracie <3
What a beautiful post, thanks for sharing your stories :) I am not creating a memorial, but whenever I am working in the garden (as I did earlier this morning) I think of my great grandmother, who loved her flowers, and wonder whether she would approve of my choices......
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you can remember your great-grandmother, Sarah! I had little contact with my grandparents, and can not remember any with any great-grands. I imagine your great-grandmother would love the flowers you posted a picture of recently. They are so beautiful!
DeleteIt must be warmer where you live than here as your flowers seem ahead of ours. We had a little thunder shower here last evening and rarely have thunder, and then mildly so. In other areas of the USA where I have lived the storms can be loud and scary. Do you get many thunderstorms?
Have a happy week!
Gracie <3