THE PAINTING
I think Fathers Day is soon, so my re-runs is for my Pop
this re-run is from June 2014
I thought my
dad could do anything. He was a Chemical
Engineer. Only smart people are Chemical
Engineers. He was a math whiz. During the Second World War, he stayed in the
US working on some complicated war related project that only really smart
people worked on.
He had smart
hobbies. He grew vegetables
hydroponically in a greenhouse when that process was mostly just in books. He designed and built small racing sailboats
that out performed others in the class and were unsinkable to boot. He built radios. He built electric light dimmers before they
were commercially available at the hardware store.
Dad knew how
to skin-dive and he could hold his breath for over two minutes even though he
was a smoker. He sailed, knew
navigation, he had his pilot’s license and flew his own single engine
plane. Pop was a good bowler and
golfer. He played piano by ear, and
could strum whatever chords on the banjo that were required for a sing-along. I’m pretty sure my father could do anything
he put his mind to doing.
In the '50's, pop almost died from an infection of the heart. During rehabilitation he took up
painting. I can remember some
portrait sketches, but don’t remember if he ever finished them. I think he only finished and framed (he made
the frame himself of course) one painting.
It was of a hunter and his dog.
Funny thing was pop never hunted and we did not have a hunting dog. He hated hunting. He went squirrel hunting once with a friend
and he could not bring himself to pull the trigger on the poor little
creatures.
Anyway he
did complete that one painting, and then he went on to another endeavor. I think he may have tried the hobby for
three months. The painting was not
great, it was never worthy of living room display, but somehow I found it, I liked it, and
I saved it. It hangs in my garage where I
see it most every day. It represents one
of my father’s least successful endeavors.
Still, I
think it is pretty good. Maybe I’ll
bring it into the living room for Father’s Day.
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I think he had potential
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Omgosh, that's a beautiful painting and definitely belongs inside your home. How wonderful that you had such an intelligent and creative dad. <3
ReplyDeleteHanging it in the living room would be a great tribute to your father.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a pretty darn good painting, too.
I see potential there, but I think the frame is wrong, a bit too heavy looking. Something a little lighter in size and colour might show off the painting better.
ReplyDeleteWell the frame is over 60 years old and since it was made by my Pops, I can't imagine any frame that would improve the picture for me...it's kinda a sentimental thing.
DeleteIt looks like with a lttle more practice he would have been brilliant at that as well.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you know and love the history makes it worth saving. Your father certainly was a marvelous man. Lucky you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great keepsake!
ReplyDeleteYour father was larger than life. I get that as you talk about him here. I love the painting. Some people are just good at whatever they do. Some not so much. What a lovely memory.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day, Joe. ☺
Your father had that rare talent of being good at everything he tried. The living room would definitely be a better place for his painting.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of a kind in the most valuable sense.
ReplyDeleteYou had a fantastic dad; but you know that!!
ReplyDeleteThat looks good enough to hang in Hick's art gallery. A plus being that the guy has all his clothes on.
ReplyDeleteIt does have a rustic appeal.
ReplyDeleteAren't you glad you kept and found this painting?
ReplyDelete