FAMILY HEIRLOOM PAINTINGS: Cherished Family Images Forever

The Family Heirloom Paintings began in 1976, with a triptych of my family completed while in graduate school (Simmons Family); each sepia toned, oil on canvas, 3' x 6' panel had a unique story to tell.

Every family has their favorite photos from that precious Kodak Brownie Camera-- and each one of those photos holds a memory. The excitement of a new first day of school outfit. Who got to lick the spoon. Which side of the family car's backseat was yours. Sadly, these photos and memories stay tucked away in an album, a box or drawer (or even on a cell phone, these days), hidden from the ones who would enjoy them most. I choose to take those photos out of the drawer and put them up on the wall-- or standing on the floor as a folding screen. For me, for you, for your grandchildren and great grand children.

My favorite photos to work with have been from the 1910's through the 1970's, with more than one figure and a memorable story connected to the photo. The photo's can depict anything, from "New Easter Coats" to a Canadian lake vacation "The Trio", to when a father served with the Italian Army in World War ll "Giuseppe Merola".

Any little moment, worth remembering forever.

During my forty-plus years in art education, I also continued to work in my studio in oil, watercolor, collage and printmaking. When I semiretired in 2003, my focus returned again to the old photos and their stories, as commissioned works within my series of Family Heirloom Paintings.