Memories of an Artist
One of my earliest artsy moments was sitting at the kitchen table colouring with my mom. She carefully outlined the outside edge of her subject with her wax crayon, then made little circular motions until all the space was delicately filled in. I used to watch her in awe and think, “When I grow up I want to be an artist just like my mom”
My mother unlatched the creative door of my mind and allowed me to explore all kinds of mediums and styles at a very young age. She never seemed to mind when I’d eagerly cut open the back of the cereal box to get the primitive water colour paint by number set or when I’d build castles with the grocery store boxes in the middle of the house or get paint stains on her furniture by accident.
Home was a place to paint, draw, colour and create. My first exposure to painting was through paint-by-number. Mom used to occasionally work on an oil paint by number. She wasn’t sure I was old enough to do one on my own, until one day a distant relative came by on my 8th birthday and surprised me with 2 wonderful presents. One was a book- “the Story of Peter Rabbit” and the other gift was my very own paint-by-number set. I was so excited. It wasn’t long before I had completed that one and many others that followed. Then I began to save the paint from the kits to make my own paintings on cardboard that I found around the house.
While in high school, I took every opportunity to take art classes. Every spare moment I had led me to an art project of some sort. One of my favorite things to paint was wildlife.
In this photo, you can see me at 16 years old, sitting at my mother’s kitchen table working on painting an owl, using a specimen from the biology department I had borrowed from school, while lots of samples from the wild covered the table.
This was my base, and even though my mother never received a degree from any art school or ever had one of her paintings exposed (even in our house) she was my greatest example of what being an artist was all about. Thanks Mom for your wonderful example!
9 Comments
Mary Lou Gustin
YOU HAD A GREAT MOM , AND TEACHER , SHE WAS A LOVELY LADY .
Debra Mosher Roy
She really was. There are so many lessons and memories I’ll never forget.
Elaine Laraway
You made me cry Deb. I remember seeing you at the table doing this exact picture and I couldn’t believe the talent you were displaying. Yes your Mom was a great inspiration. Your Mom could knit,crochet, hook a rug, cook, bake, paint,sew,make donuts, garden and do many ,many other things. She was my dear sister and I miss her very much. I am very proud of the lovely daughter she raised and inspired.
Aunt Elaine
Debra Mosher Roy
Thanks Auntie Lane! You’ve always been a precious part of our lives, and your support has always been appreciated!
Danielle Brasseur
What a wonderful story with all your memories ! I am so glad to see that you have your own page. I love to read about you and your accomplishment. Keep up! And by the way, I am still in love with your painting that you made me for my retirement.
Tante Danielle
Your French Kindergarten teacher.
Debra Mosher Roy
Thanks Tante Danielle! My kindergarten days were a wonderful start to all my learning! I remember my mom coming to make butter in my daughter’s kindergarten class. You had three generations all in your classroom! It was such an inspirational place to learn.
Eileen Dezan
Thanks, Debbie! What a lovely tribute to your wonderful mom!
Debra Mosher Roy
Mom was dedicated to providing whatever we needed that would encourage our education and that included allowing me to use her table for all kinds of crazy art projects. I was very blessed.
Eileen
Indeed you were blessed! Not many moms would give up their table for crazy art projects!