Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Artist in Residence

Late one recent evening, my husband and I arrived home from a party to find an artist busily at work in our kitchen. Painting this as a gift for a friend:

She had been inspired by this vintage motto print I keep on a bookshelf:


She believed both the sentiment and the peacock motif would please her friend. Unable to get her hands on another—it's dated '1923' for heaven's sake—she set out to paint her own version. In a slightly different, more youthful colorway. A bit larger than the original too so that it would fit into the thrifted frame she intended to use. It has just the right amounts of age and patina.

I think her friend is one lucky birthday girl, don't you?

At the same time and place she found the gold frame for her friend, she also found this carved wood one for herself. In which to showcase a favorite greeting card.


Talented, smart and industrious. Creative, thoughtful and thrifty. Respectful of the old yet intrigued by the new. Beautiful too, as you can see in the self-portrait she drew for me, below. That's my girl. The artist.

[click to enlarge, if you like]

Oh, and that gorgeous frame I propped in front of her drawing? She thrifted that too. Add 'good eye' and 'excellent taste' to the above list.

11 comments:

Kathysue said...

Wow!! How sweet and thoughtful and boy, is she talented.That is amazing!! I hope she plans on doing something with this God given ability, she is really very good!! Kathysue

Anonymous said...

I am impressed - with her talent and her thoughtfulness.
And you have to be proud when they thrift so well!
What a sweet girl and a lucky friend ~
Sarah

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Hmmm, I wonder where she gets all those traits from? ; ) She did a great job on her version. I'm sure her friend will love it. I have some cards that I keep for the front image as well. I have one that I really love and have been thinking how I want to use it. Framing a card is a nice inexpensive way to get some artwork.

Room Service ~ Decorating 101 said...

She is very good, I like hers even better. Great eye too. Thanks for sharing.

the gardener's cottage said...

i'm with vicki above, i like her version better! what talent and she is so adorable. you are lucky tracy, but i bet you already knew that.

~janet

ps ~ what did anthony jensen think?

An Urban Cottage said...

I wasn't sure where the story was going. I thought... If I were to come home from a party and found an artist in my kitchen, I would have called the police.

Your daughter is very talented!

Pauline Wiles said...

Wonderful - talented and thoughtful - what a lovely combination!

Anonymous said...

Lovely. Lucky you! It's wonderful to have an artist in the family -- especially once they've outgrown the phase of being shy about their work (we're still working on that one)...
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Jack@PCS
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Marie Vandemark @ Online PhD Schools said...

I think that this is wonderful. Her friend certainly is lucky. The artist must be a wonderful friend. Your girl is super talented.


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Creative, thoughtful and thrifty.....
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