GRANDMA'S ART: AN UNERRING EYE in Postcards 4

  • June 8, 2017, 10:36 a.m.
  • |
  • Public


Grandma’s Maudie’s three crows. The two outside birds are chewing out the chagrined middle bird. An illustration for a book. Upstairs bathroom.
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One of you asked me to post some of my mother and grandmas art. I have none of my mother’s drawings hanging right now. I own only a few of her amusing little watercolors, but right now none are rotated onto the upstairs walls.

I was an only child. In 1948, after cancer surgery for colon cancer, mother was told that she would die. She made every effort to teach me how to live often harshly with a bread board. She wanted me to be able to survive without her. My grandma never judged me.

Both graduated from college, and both ended as working artists. Mother was the artist and art director of a printing company. She created it to bring in an income after my father’s alcoholism took over. Grandma sold portraits by word of mouth so she had enough to eat every day. Her money vanished on medical bills to keep my grandpa alive in an age of poor insurance coverage.

I thought I would share a few of grandma’s pastilles. She also wrote two books and illustrated them. She was always working using her old dining room table as her drawing board. Pastilles were expensive, and she used her colors till there weren’t even nubs left. Her hands shook badly, but her art never wavered.


Back stairway art. The good stuff that’s rotated out right now. Grandma did the decanter in pastilles.


Upstairs Hall: Three portraits: Top, Horace Gunthorp. Middle: Margaret Gunthorp as a child. Bottom: T. E. Barnum.



  • Himself: He loves pushing the numbers around on his job, but after work he lets work go. Knee vastly better. Today CT scan.

  • Herself: Dressed, reading, and typing early. Write, tidy, sew on G’s costume. He’s to be a character from “Fall Out”…a video game.

  • Reading: Taking a break from politics and reading one of the Bosch mysteries.

  • Gratitude’s: That I can help.


Last updated June 08, 2017


NorthernSeeker June 08, 2017

You really come from a tradition of art in your family. I don't remember having known that your mother and grandmother were artists. Nobody in my family had any interest in art so everything I created was admired or tolerated growing up. Did you have to fight to grow your art in your own direction. I think it is VERY cool to have a grandmother who published art books.

MageB NorthernSeeker ⋅ June 08, 2017

I agree. Nope, Grandma had died by the time I started showing. Mother was so ill that she didn't care.

NorthernSeeker June 08, 2017

Thanks for sharing!

MageB NorthernSeeker ⋅ June 08, 2017

You are welcome.

GypsyWynd June 08, 2017

Beautiful.

Deleted user June 08, 2017

Your Grandmother and Mom definitely had talent !

Hillbilly Princess June 09, 2017

Marg June 09, 2017

Very impressive So sad that there was so much insecurity around health costs - that must have blighted so many lives - and still does!

Zipster June 09, 2017

Wow. Drawing is a skill I lack and so admire. Beautiful work. I especially love the crows. I'm sorry your mother's love came shrouded in anger.

Eriu June 09, 2017

Going back to art helped me survive the long hospital stay - and it's why my male nurse took an interest in me. :-)

Brakeshoe Bob June 10, 2017

Great paintings. 😀 Thanks for sharing and an insight behind them

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