Its my Mom's birthday today. I love my Mom. She is the reason that I'm in photography today. When we were kids my Mom enrolled us in art classes. She is a wonderful painter and has been for years. So, from a very young age we learned the appreciation of fine art. I remember the smell of the art studio where she would go to paint very vividly. I was probably 2 to 4 years old. I always loved to see the new paintings that all of the artists were working on. I also remember a watercolor painting that my Mom had painted that we had framed hanging in our home. I was just amazed that the colors on the palette could become this beautiful piece of art in our home AND that MY MOM could create it.
When my brothers and I were old enough my parents enrolled us in painting classes. We went to Mrs. Davis' art studio in the back of her home. Mrs. Davis was a wonderful artist too. She was also great with teaching kids how to paint. So we learned to paint with pastels, watercolors and oil paints. When we completed our first works of art my Mom would come into the studio and look at our easels and go on about how much she liked them. Then what left more of an impression on me as a young child was what happened next. We would load up our artwork and my Mom would drive us to Lewis Picture Frames on south Washington street. We would meet with the framing consultant there and we were allowed to pick out mats and frames for our art pieces. As a child I remember selecting the frames and mats from a large wall of corners. I can't imagine how much money my parents spent. Lewis frames were not the cheapest. Lewis was not a Hobby Lobby or Michael's discount store. They were the best in the business. Then a couple weeks later we would pick them up totally framed and ready to hang. Then we would go home and with Dad's help the paintings would be hung and proudly displayed in our home. It was the BEST experience ever as a child. To see your brain child, this painting, that you had created matted, framed and displayed just like in the art gallery. This went on for years. I didn't get all of my paintings framed. But on a regular basis we would get the Lewis Picture Frame experience. I fell in love with art.
After a few years of art classes Mrs. Davis gave us an assignment to go out and take photographs of different things that interested us. Then we were to bring the film back (yes film) and paint what we had photographed. I don't remember ever painting what I photographed. It was like once I picked up a camera, all other mediums seemed to fade into the background. The camera was first and foremost. One of my mentors Sam Hollis (a very successful photographer from Midland, Texas) calls it "getting the bug."
I'm so thankful that my Mom invested her time and her talent so deeply in my brothers and I. Happy birthday Mom!
Comments (2)
This is precious, Davy. I don't know your mom....but, what an inspiration! May we all help each of our kids find what he/she was created to do.
Super kudos to your mom for her wisdom and to you for expressing your appreciation!
Gracelyn
The wonderful little things you Mom's do that seem small today can make a big difference in your kids lives later. My friend Mel Morris says "its all about the memory!"
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