In the back of a bed was a pile of papers which were supposed to be thrown out. We found this pen and ink drawing that my brother was starting of Art's family restaurant, The Sweet Shoppe. I guess Dennis wasn't satisfied with it so he had discarded it.
The Sweet Shoppe has a lot of fond memories for Art. It was a lot of very hard work, but Art feels he gained a lot of experience from it. For one thing, that's probably why he was his high school's Student Body Treasurer.
When Art and I were married, I knew how to cook only five recipes. I lived with three other girls and we all took turns cooking five days out of a week in a month. You either went home or was on a date during the weekends.
At the reception after our wedding, so many people came to inform me that my new mother-in-law was the best cook and baker on the Big Island. Uh oh....
A couple of friends gave me a whole bunch of cookbooks as a wedding gift. Art did quite a bit of the cooking in those early days. Eventually, I learned how to follow a recipe... sort of.
Now a days, mom does the cooking and I wash up. Art dries, but he keeps sending back dishes or pots and pans that he feels are not up to his Sweet Shoppe standards.
As for the unfinished drawing, I can't seem to coax my baby brother to pick up his pen and water colors again. Therefore, Art has framed the drawing as is and will always treasure it. Who knows? Maybe when Dennis retires, I can persuade him to get back to his art.
Are these three buildings still around? Do they look the same as they did then? (I'm just wondering what subjects would inspire and move Dennis to draw them today. The old things of our youth are so full of memories, what can compare to them today?)
ReplyDeleteGreat drawing!
ReplyDeleteI wish I had my motherinlaw here to cook, she's a wonderful cook, german heritage and she can really cook,, you are very lucky.Your brother is so talented and I know as an artist that the detail and work he put in these peices is just amazing,, the acurate strokes are just beautiful,, he should take up this craft again,, these are wonderful memeory keepers for you,,you always make me smile you do,,
ReplyDeleteActually, this doesn't look unfinished at all.. I like the subtle shadings he has done... There's a lot of history in his drawings, Kay!.
ReplyDeleteso glad you were able to rescue this one...it's meaningful to you and Art too. Enjoying your art collection Kay.
ReplyDeletehope arthritis doesn't harm his hands. That's what happened to Ramsay, whose pen and ink drawings I greatly admired.
ReplyDeleteThere's a certain charm in this picture that isn't harmed by it not being exactly finished. I really love your art collection, Kay.
ReplyDeleteAnother atmospheric drawing - how lovely. If Dennis sees them on your walls maybe he'll be encouraged to start again.
ReplyDeleteMaybe memories are supposed to finish drawing...DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteKay, this is a beautiful drawing and he should finish it, it really looks good.
ReplyDeleteSadly, Dennis is right. You can't go back the way you came, this is in the nature of humans, that we grow and change as we mature. We have ties to the past but can never go back to being who or what we were back then. While that leads to whimsical reminiscences for most people, for artists it is a special case, as their art is an extension of their personalities, an expression from within. Our history is full of anecdotes that illustrate this; Adam and Eve banished from the Garden as soon as they find knowledge of themselves; Pandora; and even in modern science, the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. Dennis could start drawing again, of course, but he would have to come to terms with being a different artist with different priorities, which is why he cannot finish his old work. Of course, the new stuff could be even better than the old, no way to tell without trying.
ReplyDeletealoha,
walt
I like his drawings even the unfinished one-maybe you can include them in your book of Art's family history?
ReplyDeleteI think I can understand why Dennis doesn't want to finish the drawing, but I definitely understand why Art framed it and intends to keep it. It is his youth, in pen and ink, but one's youth IS a life unfinished. In its way, the drawing is already perfect.
ReplyDelete— K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
I hope you can persuade him. He truly is talented. I really loved all of the drawings. They are treasures for many reasons.
ReplyDeleteAll of these drawings are so well done. I just love good art. Your brother is very talented.
ReplyDeleteThere is certainly enough there in this drawing to be evocative, and something poignant about it being unfinished.
ReplyDeleteJust lovely.
The drawings seem to be in good shape. They are treasures to be sure.
ReplyDeleteTell Dennis he is extremely talented and to try again - bet he would love it too. You are an adorable family - just lovely. Love reading about you all.
ReplyDelete