Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Artwork in the Attic

More attic cleaning.  Yesterday Kristi brought down some of my artwork that I didn't even know was up there.  This is a pen and ink drawing I did of the Acadian House located in the Longfellow Evangeline State Park in Lafayette, Louisiana.  We lived in LA for 5 years after we got married.  The glass was off the frame and apparently some silverfish has been dining on the paper I did the drawing on.  I'm thinking of having this reframed to preserve it, eaten paper and all.  OR, I could photoshop the eaten paper out of it and print up a new copy to frame.  Which would you do?  I have wonderful memories of my time in the south and seeing this fabulous old home.


This small painting was also brought down, can you believe I don't even remember painting this?  It's small, 5x7".  I'm going to frame it, too.  This is just one of the painting I did using ink from an octopus.  Yes, you heard that right.  My friend in Alaska had her husband harvest the ink from an octopus that he caught in his fishing net and they sent the ink to me.  I did many, many paintings using this wonderful sepia ink.  I must say, it has a unique aroma, rather like an oceanic musk.  This is a farm I took a photo of when on the way to visit my mom when she lived on a farm in the Oregon countryside near Scio.


This photo below is the first octopus ink painting I did, it's of Dayle pulling all 3 kids on a sled down our driveway in a snowstorm.  This was our first house in Corbett, it was up a hill and the kids had a great childhood there with freedom to run through our woods and ponies, goats, chickens, ducks and cats and dogs.  I was invited to "painting night" by our neighbor, Weltha Wilson who was nearly 100 years.  So, I took my little bottle of octopus ink, a few brushes and some watercolor paper and the photo I'd taken.. and after 2 hours of painting I brought this home.  I treasure this so much.  The barn you see across the road was Weltha's - her family raised daffodils there.  The dog you see down the road is our liver spotted Dalmation, Baba.


The painting below is of my grandparent's farmhouse where my dad was born in the countryside of Watonga, Oklahoma.  I did the painting realistically, it had been left uninhabited after grandma and grandpa "moved to town".  Grandpa went out there every day after that to putter around the farm.  I "rescued" their 5 legged oak farm table and kitchen queen cabinet from the old farmhouse and had them restored - they are my dearest treasures.


This is the barn that was behind the farmhouse.  I also painted this after it suffered from years of neglect after grandpa passed away.  Now it's gone.  I'm happy to have this image as a reminder of the grand old farm that my family loved for so many years.  My aunt Mary Ann just passed away, the last of my Dad's generation.



This is another barn I took a photo of on the way to visit my mom when she lived in the their farm in Scio, OR.  I then painted it.


This is a print of an octopus ink painting I did for the friend from Alaska who sent me the ink.  I told her to send me a photo of whatever she wanted painted and she sent this - it's a man in Alaska who hauled some of their belongings to their homestead on his horse-drawn wagon.  This is near Homer, Alaska. 



I hope you've enjoyed my art show.  I've showed my octopus ink paintings of Mt. Hood, the Yaquina Bay Bridge and Lighthouse before.  I wish I had a wall big enough to hang them all together.   

What do you make that you have displayed in your home?  Please share.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

16 comments:

  1. Fabulous pictures Teresa, you are very talented. Great to have the memories too. I would definitely frame the first one with the holes :) B X

    ReplyDelete
  2. My vote would be to frame the picture just as it is, holes and all! I very much enjoyed seeing all of your beautiful artwork. You truly are a talented artist and should have a show somewhere. At the very least they should be displayed in your home and not hidden away in the attic.
    Blessings, Betsy

    ReplyDelete
  3. Teresa, you are so talented! Do you still paint? I love that used octopus ink for your medium! That is so special. I would vote for you to frame the first picture with the holes still there. It gives it a lacy appearance that is quite pleasing. How wonderful to discover these treasures in your attic. I do hope you find a place to feature them, even if it's on a rotating basis.
    I have counted cross stitch pieces hanging in our home I did years ago. My eyes won't allow me to do that any longer. Have a wonderful Easter. ♥

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a talented lady you are! I love your artwork. I vote to frame the original drawing complete with the holes. My favorite is the one of your husband pulling your children on the sled. Thanks for sharing your work with us!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love seeing your paintings. The one of the horse and flatbed hauling near Homer - I've been to Homer three times (all in the same week last year). My daughter has so many friends there. Many of my customers from Hubbard who are Old Believer Russian fish nearby each summer and maintain homes there. I've never been to Oklahoma before and what a blessing to have paintings of buildings that have grown old or been taken down due to age. You have such talent.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nice drawings Teresa! I'd find place to display them away from sunlight is best. Good memories! Maybe get a nice photo copy of the partially eaten photo then matte and frame it. I've got one living room wall that is dedicated to some of my favorite photographs that are framed professionally. Two are on canvas. And our hall. It's a gallery I enjoy daily.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lovely paintings.....you are so clever to be able to do that. I think they are worthy of framing and being on display.
    There are very few old barns left in the UK -they've all been converted into homes

    ReplyDelete
  8. What wonderful artwork Teresa, you have such talent and these have created such beautiful memories. The history behind them is magical. I think the eaten one sadly needs to be copied and framed, such a shame the silverfish got there. Enjoy seeing these again and thanks for sharing them. Hugs xxx

    ReplyDelete
  9. I think I'd do both re: the Longfellow Evangeline State Park. Stunning work - all of it!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Good morning Teresa. Your ink drawings are amazing. You are a very talented artist. It was interesting reading about the octupus ink you used; and the color has not faded. For Christmas I received a bottle of Walnut ink. My daughter bought it from Amazon and it comes with a bamboo stylus. It's been fun to experiment drawing with it. Enjoy your day, Pat xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. Gosh Teresa you are so talented and I loved all of these treasued artwork xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  12. I think you are one of the most talented people I know Teresa. I love all of your work. I would frame the first painting as is. I kind of like the look of the paper just the way it is, even if it has been eaten away. Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  13. You are so talented Teresa. The eaten picture - such a shame it got damaged. I'm wondering if a good well fitted mount inside the frame would cover over the holes. I have some cross stitch displayed around the house eg a small Poor Bear, small head of a tiger and a crown - Golden Jubilee celebration I think it was and over Christmas - some knitted items come out such as mini stockings, santa, a snowman and a cross stitch advent calendar. Cathy x

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for sharing your wonderful artwork and memories with us, Teresa. I really enjoyed this post...another one of my favorites :) xx

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hello Teresa- your artwork is so lovely as are the wonderful memories they evoke for you. I loved hearing about them as well. What an interesting life and history you have. Thank you for sharing. Anne x

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Teresa! Your are such a talent! The drawings should all be framed and hung and I think you should keep the drawing with the bite marks but do get new framing so those silverfish don't finish it off, what a lose that would be!! hugs back, Ginette

    ReplyDelete

I absolutely love comments and thank you so much for taking time to leave me a note. :-)