My Art Gallery

I have an art gallery in my house.  Is it prideful?  Perhaps.  

It used to be in my craft room which seemed appropriate, but upon having children (and upon my craft room/office/guest room becoming the little girls' room) I had no other choice but to move it to the main room.  What could I do?  Now, they are not all mine.  Some are friends' or local artists', and some are my oh so talented daughter's.

It took me literally years to get it just right and with the recent round additions, I think it finally feels finished (although all I'd have to do is get another painting bug and it'd all be over.  It's a brick wall too so yikes!  I found these awesome little plastic hooks with tiny nails inside it.  They hammer right into the brick and hold beautifully.

This was drawn by my eldest.  It is called  Totoro in a Tree (If you haven't seen the movie My Neighbor Totoro, please, please do!) 

This one is old, Bleeding heart of Jesus, body of the church, blood of Jesus flowing out into the world through the open doors...you get it.

This one is also old.  I was afraid to paint faces.  She is a mother and a tree, and she is hella strong--protecting her babies in the grass from the harsh flames of the sun.

 This one is my newest.  It's called "MY BOY!"  Not a self protrait, but one day maybe I'll have my boy.

 This is one of my favorites.  I call her Rhonda.

 This was inspired by my friend's angry girl painting.  I went home and made an angry girl of my own.  "Cheers, Debs!"

Here is another old one.  I got bold enough to draw a face and lots of other body parts as well.  I'd like to re-do this one with better background work, but I still like the concept.  She has lost herself piece by piece as she left home.  It was a lonely time for me before kids and before all the wonderful people kids bring into ones life.

Also older and also dark.  Kind of Where's Waldo-esque.This is a carnival (clearly) and someone has fallen out of the Ferris wheel.  And no one seems to notice.

This one is newer, and not a favorite. Cactus from this desert life and a girl who is standing a little too close to the camera...and the cactus.

 This one was an attempt at painting a man.  I like him.  He is on display.

 This is a masterpiece of my eldest.  A folding symmetry project we did.  The colors and shapes are so beautiful to me.  It's one of my favorites.  By the way she feels very valued to be up on the galleria wall.

This is another of my eldests.  She called it "The House" and I have kept it on display ever since.  Anytime a child titles a work I think they must be extra proud of it and so am I.  This was before she began painting actual people (well mostly fairies, unlike my other daughter who always paints a "big Huuuuuge monster")  This is special because it shows her progression in painting and drawing.

So that is most of them.  All that to show you.  You do not have to be an artist to have fun painting, to paint meaningful things that are meaningful to you, or to have your own damn gallery display. Carry on.

Guest Post from the Daddy-Do of our Hearts : Fathers & Daughters

The other day, someone pointed out that my toes nails were pretty and matched my finger nails.  I blushed and said thank you, I become shy with compliments.  It occurred to me the exclusive club I belong to, one in which fraternity style hazing still runs rampant, and little regard is held for personal dignity or pride.  It's lawlessness, really.  Membership dues are paid in rainbow-painted nails and random chunks of braided hair.  Such is the cost, and like so many initiation rituals the meaning isn't necessarily found in the effect but rather in the act itself.  Grown men walking around respectable places of business with glitter on their collars, sky-blue finger nails shimmering, carefully crafted sections of hair braids...we understand.  We understand that if you are a father and you don't occasionally walk into work stinking of nail polish remover or donning pink stars on your toe nails, then you might not be a member yet.  If you don't understand how important, how critical it is to little girls when dads step into their planet, then you should look at your calendar and plan on attending the next meeting.   

Recently I celebrated my 5^th year as a member.  I think the festivities included chasing my daughters around the yard as if I were some deranged four-legged creature. Which might be my next entry: “Creative ways to stay in shape with your children”.  The next day, I limped around sore and tired from freeze-tag bear-crawl style, but I sat in my office cube smiling to myself, proud of the new patch I get to wear.