I have just received the first of the Travelling Doll Project dolls from my ADO group. The doll comes from Colleen (aka LoopyBoopy) in New Orleans - she is something of a blank canvas (the doll, not Colleen!), and I know I won't be able to resist the urge to give her a face. But I'll also be giving her something that Colleen won't be expecting.........The wonderful journal accompanying Colleen's doll put me in something of a reflective mood. Her journal was inspired by some found (in an estate sale) ephemera in the form of a baby book from the 1920's and she was moved to write about the nature of motherhood.............she's hoping that the others in the team will take that baton and run with it, I think. Well, that got me thinking about where we come from and what we pass on and how we are just a blip in a long line. I remembered that I had done these drawings of my grandparents as young people from photographs that my aunts had, that I saw when I was travelling in Europe some years ago. I thought I would share these: from the top, my English grandparents, Bertram Johnston and Gladys Barnes and my German grandparents, Heinrich Klatt and Rosa Mohr. Gladys only died a year or so ago at the age of 103.
9 comments:
First of all I have to say you are an AMAZING artist..the drawings are perfection and soulful.
That is so true about us just being a blip in time.. Family history IS a treasure.
Thanks for sharing..
Kimberly
Wow 103?! That's amazing! I love the portraits, what a wonderful way to remember your grandparents.
Susie,
Your drawings are just perfection. the idea of a traveling doll is very interesting, as is the journal. We may all be a blip in time, but it is a great thing to be able to reach out to each other as kindred spirits and share the same interests in a loving way. Hope you are having a great day. Robin
...and she draws amazingly:) You really are an incredible talent Susie, I'm so glad to have come to know you and your art.
The drawings are wonderful. Yes, you got the idea I was trying to relay in my journal and I'm delighted it's inspired you to share these with us. Really look forward to your work on the doll and journal!
Aaah, good, Colleen! Isn't it great to get on the same wavelength even though the tyranny of distance separates us!
Thanks for the comments, everyone. I was pleased with the drawings when I did them because I managed to capture their liknesses - all depicted at the time of WW1. My English grandfather was in the Battle of the Somme and my German grandfather was in the German Red Cross.....sometimes I fantasize that they met on the battlefield.......maybe I'll weave a fiction around that idea one day, because I'll never know for sure.
Susie,
I can only echo what the others said...you are truly a genius! Those portraits are amazing and alive. What a gift to be able to capture time for a little bit!
looking forward to seeing your stamp on the doll!
hugz
Pam
Fantastic portraits Suzie. Hope you have a lovely weekend :O)
Hi Susie, your sketches are just incredible! Good looking stock you come from too!
Nan
Dear Susie, I bring you today an award. I would be very happy if you look in my blog and give him further.
Hugs, Anjah
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