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?
