I was going through some old photos recently when I came across some of my earliest original artwork.
I was that kid who loved to draw. I even had some kids ask me for drawings that I later learned that they signed and turned in as their own work. Even as a youngster I should have been more cognizant of my rights under copyright law.
I loved to make drawings for my Grandmother. She would actually frame some of my doodles for display in the living room of her home. Forget the fridge and a magnet, she believed my work belonged on walls presented properly. Grandma always got my sense of humor so I had the idea to draw her a pretty complex, over-the-top Christmas Card.
The actual card is long gone, but what I found was my original sketch. I did this when I was about 8-9 years old. It’s not very detailed, and it has part of my math homework off on one side. The whole thing started when I asked Grandma what all of those things in that crazy song looked like – she said she didn’t know, so I decided to make something up.
The 12 Days of Christmas through my 4th grade eyes…
Days 12 through 7. Hand illustrated on the finest college ruled velum. The extended cow is my favorite part of this section.
A card so grand it took two whole sides of a sheet of paper to plan out…
Days 6-1 – I believe “Four Calling Birds” is some of my best work – I think the one on the lower right speaks “Woodstock”
Over the years I have reproduced this concept in pen and ink with lots of flourishes and details – but the concept itself is unchanged. The Maids-a-milking would all be in French maid uniforms, the Lords would be jumping hurdles, the Swans would wear swimming goggles – all style with the substance unchanged. The last time I drew it was the Christmas after I graduated from college.
When I showed this drawing to one of my co-workers, she remarked that the Calling Birds and the Turtle Doves would make fun T-shirts – pretty cool since I make up T-shirt slogans for a living. I guess I’m kinda doing what I was made to do.
I hope your Holiday Season is bright and wonderful and just a little bit silly.
the eff stop 
Wonderful — and I too love, love, love the four calling birds. Imagine how disappointing it would have been if they’d had cell phones 😉
Thanks – that’s funny – I was just talking with a friend about how a kid would draw it today with iPhones. I like the party line better too.
Fun! I’m glad you love your work. I do too. It feels more like play than work to me but I get paid to do it, so I don’t quibble when my Clients tell me I do good “work”.
Russ
It really is such a big part of your life – if you can do work you love you’re lucky!
I can’t believe you did that in fourth grade! You DID find your calling.
Birds, that is, calling birds.
LOL – thanks. I was always a doodler, still am
*Green with envy*
I think that’s pretty amazing for your age. Love it!
The creativity has been just oozing out of you forever 🙂
Oozing might even have been the word my mom chose for it after she saw the doodles on my bedroom wall 🙂
Hahahaha 🙂
Those drawings are priceless, Lorri.
So much fun and imagination behind them – easy to see you were highly creative and had a great sense of humour right from a very young age.
How lucky you are to be in a job for which you were essentially…….. just perfect.
(not sure what I was meant to be as I’ve had so many different jobs, but I think it’s never too late to be what you might have been)
Thanks Vicky – and I think you are right abut it never being too late!
Four calling birds. I love it!
ArkRed
Thanks! I think I’m dating myself with that rotary phone 🙂
LOVE this!!!! You are such a talented woman, thank you for sharing! 🙂
Awe shucks…you are too kind 🙂 Thanks for checking it out.
LOVE IT – HA!!! Thanks for sharing – Happy Tuesday!
Thanks! Happy Tuesday to you too!
8 or 9?? That’s pretty good! Do you still draw? I want to see it!
Yep – My degree in Art School was an emphasis in life drawing – super marketable degree:) I don’t draw as much as I used to – but I doodle a lot to relax. I think I was doing portraits by about 11 or 12.
Wow you are the epitome of creativeness!
You are too kind 🙂
kind smind! You’re talented!
🙂
I am impressed with your talent… you are a lucky person to have the ability.. I never seemed to progress beyond the stick drawings…
Stick drawings can be very powerful! Some of these are just that:) Thanks!
Wow!
Thanks Jules!
This is so cool. My favorites are the cow and the turtle doves. I can paint, but can’t draw very well. wish I could do both. But I love to paint so I’m happy. You were great even back then! 🙂
Thanks – I love painting too – it’s so free. I think the turtle doves were the ones that cracked my Grandma up 🙂
Your artistic talent started at a young age. My mother recently gave me some old artwork. Wow. It’s a good thing I plan on sticking with writing! What a fun post!
LOL – Thanks. I have always loved to draw. Visual things make me tick. I think you have mad writing skilz!