Instagram became my mother.

With social media being the arbiter of all things these days, I have recently wondered if posting art really matters?  Imagine if NO ONE ever saw your art. I recently heard about an artist in Paris who painted his whole life and never showed his art. He was quite good according to one person who saw his amazing artwork. He agreed to meet with one gallery owner. When the gallery owner arrived, he decided not to meet. He changed his mind. His work was never seen. Ugh. No thumbs up, smiley faces or hearts for that poor artist.

Remember when you were little, drawing for the fun of it?  Wait…. did you? I didn’t. Almost every piece of art I made, I had to show my Mom. I was an avid card-maker, drawing illustrations with silly sentiments made to cheer people up. I couldn’t believe there was a job that combined drawing and making people feel good! My mother was my biggest fan. She told me a million times that one day, I would work for Hallmark! Oh, Mom. She gave me thumbs up and hearts on all my artwork (not really, but if she was alive today, she would).

Apparently, I make art to feel validated. To have someone say “good job” or “you did it!” But I also make art to relive a childhood memory, to connect somehow to my past. Do we make art because of a NEED to express our ideas and thoughts or do we make it because on some level, to be validated, or both? Did the cavemen make art to show their other cavemen friends?  Maybe some people are perfectly content making art for themselves. I often wonder about Grandma Moses. When she first started painting at age 70, did she want validation? Money? Fame? I doubt it. I know, in fact, she related her imagery to her childhood memories and just wanted to take up a hobby.

Art-making used to be a private experience. Today we need to be “liked”. We want the world to say “Good job! You did it!” With so many people bashing social media these days, I guess I want to say thank you. Thank you, Instagram. My mother isn’t here to give me those thumbs up and red hearts, but thanks to you, some person 500 miles away from me is saying “Good job! You did it!”

That’s Mom. She was the best!❤️

Tub O’ Soda

Tub O’ Soda, 10″ x 10″ Oil on gessobord

Original page from Michne Camping Log, 1971

My father kept our camping log all the years we camped. This page has the story of the day I won the “floating mattress!”

It was July 16, 1971. The perfect summer day as I recall. My father was hosting the annual work picnic. I won a green raft that day for my athletic ability in the egg race! It was my biggest claim to fame as a 9 year old. I remember reaching into a tub of iced cold soda with what seemed like every variety ever invented. It was sheer heaven- all the FREE SODA I could drink! Pull the ring tab- wear it on your finger for a bit before carelessly dropping it somewhere in the grass. Take that long first sip…..ahhhhhhhhhh. Life was good.

 

Who’s Thirsty?

Who’s Thirsty? 10″ x 10″ Oil on Gessobord

We didn’t have water bottles- there was no sippy box, pouch or fancy energy drink. If you were outside playing, and you were thirsty, you would simply turn on the spigot, bend down a bit, wait for about 10 seconds until the cold water reached the end of the hose, then take a long, long gulp swallowing, swallowing and swallowing. Of course, you would then offer the hose to the next sweaty, out of breath neighborhood friend. If you were on your game that day, you might remember to turn off the hose. Or, your father might step in  huge puddle and yell out ” Who left the dam hose on?”

Cherry Kool-Aid

Cherry Kool-Aid, 10″ x 10″ Oil on Gessobord

Making Kool-Aid was hit-or-miss. First, you had to have packet. Chances are, we didn’t have enough sugar to fill the measuring cup. Next, to find the pitcher- (dump out whatever old drink was brewing in that!) After accidentally snorting the unsweetened powder when you opened it, get your spoon, add sugar, stir, then pray that you would have ice in the ice-cube maker! If all was right with the world, you would have the perfect sugary cup of cherry Kool-Aid. All in a summer’s days work!

Saratoga Ginger

Saratoga Ginger

Remember Saratoga Vichy Water? Well, they also made Saratoga Ginger Ale! Of course, everyone had the Vichy water. My mother had it for every “adult” party. Each time there was a spill, it was “Grab the Vichy water!!” Not gonna lie, we usually had Canada Dry Ginger Ale. I resurrected this bottle from the Round Lake Antique Fest and thought I’d put the little sister of Vichy in the spotlight. What is Vichy water, anyway?

Christmas Ribbon Candy

You could always count on a glass dish filled with these little candy treasures at my grandmothers.  The bowl was always strategically placed waiting for our little fingers to sneak 3 or 4 at a time! I would load a few in my pockets and eat on the ride home. It was like eating a  kaleidoscope! Every color  and shape seemed different and more special than the next. The Christmas memories I from being a kids of the 60’s and 70’s  stay with me now as I put out the dish for my nieces and nephews to marvel, and hopefully take a few home for their car ride. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Cinnamon Toast

Cinnamon Toast with Wonder Bread, 6″ x 6″ on gesso board

If you weren’t feeling too lazy, why not jazz up regular toast with some cinnamon sugar? A few slices of Wonder Bread, some butter if we were lucky, but it was usually margarine, cinnamon and sugar made the summer vacation a bit more exciting!  This was a step above cereal as a breakfast alternative. French toast and waffles were next and pancakes- real pancakes made from the box! But cinnamon toast was great anytime. I remember experimenting at a friends with cinnamon sugar! We used confectionary sugar, butter and cinnamon and made a paste. To this day, I remember how that taste. We would eat it by the spoonful. I’ve grown up (some) but still love the taste of perfectly made cinnamon toast.