Decorative Painted Pieces

In our family room,
I have a collection of painted pieces.

My mother lives in Pennsylvania and she 
is an artist and decorative painter.
She has taken classes and taught classes
for over 60 years.

Early American arts 

are very popular in Pennsylvania
and she raised her daughters 
to appreciate them. 

(When I was younger
I must admit that I did not love them so much,
but the older I get
the more I am drawn to them
because they remind me of my mom.)
:)

 

 

Of the different types of painting

 that she does or has done,

I have always been particularly fond of 

Norwegian 

"rosemaling" 

To describe it, 

I would say it is controlled and deliberate strokework

mainly in symmetric patterns, consisting of swirling

and sweeping brush strokes depicting flowers -- 

 their stems and leaves.

Close-up of  "rosemaling"  

She paints and has painted many styles,

 with early American tole painting 

being one of her favorites.

An oil can my father painted in the 1970's. The little box is a repro,
and the large box on the right is one my mother painted also.

A banded wooden box she painted.

 It's fun to see how her

brushwork and strokework

has changed over the years

as her painting techniques and classes

have given her new insights and methods.

She turned 80 in March!

And I love knowing

that even at her age --

she is always willing to learn 

more

still taking 3 painting classes 

each and every week.

It's her passion.

A wooden trunk she painted and gave to me.

The top of a step stool she painted years ago when the kids were small.

 It's so nice to have these!

(I can draw, but absolutely cannot paint. 

They are so different.)

My mother painted the fruit box on the left,
my dad painted the tin leaf bowl on the right.

But I know that someday,

when things slow down

and I am older and more relaxed,

and retired,

I want to learn to paint -- 

and paint and paint,

just like my mom.

   

Thanks Mom,
  for always being 
an inspiration to me.

Love you!