I’m a creative, experienced, multi-purpose artist and art director
who can take projects start to finish in a variety of styles.

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my designs sell out!

Friday, October 8, 2010

"Transportation"

I grew up in an isolated valley, and one of the things I wanted most was transportation out of there. Nature is great, but I wanted a friend that didn't have fur, scales, feathers, or a shell.

The next-door-neighbors were "Summer People", meaning they came to garden in nice weather. They were "Old Country" (Europeans), and because of them I have the idea that all Europeans must keep everything they've ever owned. Instead of throwing things away, they had stages of storage. Good stuff in the house, okay stuff in the barn, junk hidden in a clearing amongst the pine trees.

I'd really like to make excuses about plundering their junk, but I mean really, did they actually expect me to leave their unsupervised stuff alone? The fact that many of the rusty old farm tools had wheels on them made them very attractive to me. I had endless time to clean and oil them into some level of functionality. I think it's probably a good thing I didn't know how to make a motor or I would've driven out of the glen without looking back.

My creations didn't get me out of the valley, but I had fun making them. I also enjoyed decorating them with pine cones and flowers while I waited for my fairy godmother to turn one of them into a carriage to take me to the ball.

28 comments:

  1. I'm sure your neighbors were delighted to see what such a cute kid created from their cast offs! As bad as you wanted to leave, I'm sure they were feeding you equipment to keep you nearby...Such fun to imagine! :o)

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  2. What a great story, Linda... and a very clever creation she (you) has made! And thank you!!!! for the "website and blogs I follow" link, I'm honored!

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  3. Wow! You had a terrific and very interesting childhood! I love your transportation! I think the best toys were the ones we made.

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  4. Beautiful story behind an amazing art :D

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  5. What a great story! That and your illo made those childhood times seem so vivid! Cool. :)

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  6. Wonderful story!!! Love the mode of transport too:)

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  7. Great story! I love her (your) expression.

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  8. Thanks everybody! For some reason, I really liked that tractor seat. That was a recurring theme on my creations. This illo is bugging me because I rushed through it more than I wanted because this weekend is all about my garage roof. I might view this piece as a study and make a real painting from it.

    @Michelle, I don't know if the neighbors were happy about my creations because I hid them in the trees. I remember coveting some tool, and the neighbor looked around like he could feel my desire for it. He locked that up in the barn :)

    @Ces, I agree, the best toys were the ones we made.

    @Susan, you're welcome! I like seeing what you come up with every week.

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  9. Linda, How are you this Sunday. Thanks for stopping by. I read your comment at Karin's. I am so glad that was your former workplace. Take care!

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  10. Doing great Ces, hope the same is true for you. You've sent me on a whole stream of consciousness following blog after blog today :)

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  11. Heisann!
    What a nice story, Linda, and your illustration is lovely.
    I think you, although, had a wonderful childhood looking back with a grown up's eyes ;:OD)

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  12. To tell the truth, my childhood was a mixed bag. At this point I can choose to focus on the happy times -- or at least I can remember the happy things on this blog!

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  13. Hi Linda I just had a peep at your lovely blog via Michele's 'Mushroom tender'. What great stories go with your illustrations. I love the anatomy post as I am by profession a physiotherapist and I spend a lot of my working time explaining anatomy to my patients!
    Great blog - I will visit again!
    Kind regards from the UK, Jane

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  14. Thanks Jane! Maybe I'll do some more anatomy in the future?

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  15. Lovely illustration. I love the presentation, the colors and the 'feel' of it. Makes me think about my first bicycle which was a hand-me-down from my brother but I still liked it.
    Thank you for visiting and thanks for your comment and wishes.

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  16. lol, this makes me remember when I was little! My grandparents live on a farm, but by the time I came round, all the old farm equipment was no longer in use, they just had sheep and ponies. Me and my sister spent so much time messing about with rusty old ploughs, exploring the loft where all my grandfathers souvenirs from Greenland were, etc.

    Love the story behind your picture, very pretty!

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  17. @Alex, I love it when I can do something that gets people in their own happy memories.

    @ShellyLou, I love your name! Funny how memories can cross between Greenland and Ohio :)

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  18. I love the stories that accompany your wonderful illustrations. The combination brings me right into your world. I think my ex-wife must have been European.... she ran out of room for everything....something had to go.....I didn't take up that much room :o) Oh well... Hey how is the plumbing situation over there. Haven't heard anything in a while... which is good :o)

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  19. LOL Jack! My ex complained I had too much stuff and was too messy. Funny how clean the house was after he moved out. Speaking of house, all of the furniture is FINALLY back in the rooms it belongs in. I expect one more conversation with the insurance co., and then it's finished. My house is mine again!!

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  20. Hi, Linda, thanks for stopping by.
    I identified with what you say here, because I spent my childhood away from the city and all the neighboring houses of my parents were from people who arrived on Friday night and went on Sunday afternoon, and the summer came the last day of school and went the day before they began. so I had two kinds of friends, some from Monday to Friday. and other weekend and summer. It was not easy.
    An illustration with a story.

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  21. Thanks for visiting Roberto! I wish my summer people brought kids, but they were mostly old people. Once in a while I got a couple of girls close to my age, and I was thrilled when they came. I love seeing that my odd childhood is something other people can relate to :)

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  22. Oh Linda, sorry to be late. I have been hard at work washing my hair and stuff.

    Well I loved the story, you have the gift you know, the way you structure your words, how they lead one into t'other so gracefully.

    This is a lovely work, so autobiographical - you look pretty cute actually :) There I am getting all clucky!

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  23. LOL Andrew. Thanks for the compliments :) I like reading the things you come up with too.

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  24. What a beautiful inspiration for your illo! Thank you for sharing:)

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