Original Oil Painting by: Grandfather’s wife
Grandfather says nowadays, illustrations in printed publications are mostly done with photo-processors. In the 1940s, they were done by commercial artists.
In his teens, Grandfather studied to become one, at Cass Technical High School in Detroit.
Here are two of the charcoal studies he did when he was 18 (along with a cityscape in oil):
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About the Author: RD Blakeslee is an octogenarian in West Virginia who built his net worth by only investing in that which can be enjoyed during acquisition and throughout life, as opposed to papers in a drawer, like stocks and bonds. You can read more about him here.
Photos: Courtesy of the Blakeslee Family
He was very talented! They look like black and white photos. 👍❤️
Thank you, Paula. Grandfather pays attention to art of all kinds to this day. but most respects and enjoys the work the old masters.
As you imply, his own work was (how unfashionable!) accurate representation of physical subject matter.
I love art done in charcoal; I think it is very tasteful and classy.
Gee,
I got sidetracked; See “Grandfather Says”, articles 1-84.
Even if you were better with words it seems like your snowman demonstrates your abilities are well-rounded, *chuckle*
Ugh. Have you been sharing jokes with my husband?
And help me out here. How do I get to article 1-84?
Goofy! ArticleS (plural) and you know it!
https://lenpenzo.com/blog/grandfather-says
Well, Len, it’s messy to work with and not very tasteful when it dusts up into your mouth and onto your your face
These days, you would have to wash your face before going out or you might get accused of racism.
I’m impressed, Dave. Why didn’t you follow up on it?
I was always better with words than art. My “best” drawing is a snowman – three circles plus hat, nose, & buttons – as done by a six-year-old.
Thank you for sharing your art work. You are very talented. You perfectly captured the lighter edges of the sansevieria.
Thanks, Bill
I guess the left-most plant in the lower picture is a sansevieria?
Never knew that.
That’s the trouble with us neophyte artists – we are often illinformed about what we’re trying to render …
Where I grew up the sansevieria was better-known as a “Mother-in-laws Tongue.” They’re actually very nice house plants; I used to keep them around my place. They’re easy to take care of too.
He drew the larger variety. Usually, the shorter variety with the sharper tip is called mother-in-laws tongue.
I think it should be called “and so is your mother” instead. haha
Well there are M.I.L.s, and there are M.I.L.s
Mother of my late wife of 53 years (I’ve remarried since her death) Raised two children through the great depression of the 1930s. She was of necessity extremely frugal; nonetheless, she lent us substantial sums of money in her later years when we needed “seed money” for our first house and, later, other other capital.
Her character is burned into my memory.
God rest, Murial.
Gee says
Ugh. Have you been sharing jokes with my husband?
Posts got out of order in this thread, Gee, so Ill quote yours here and respond.
Thats the trouble with husbands jokes. Gee.
They get old and stay that way.
Mr. Dave, will you please consider sharing more of your art work with us?
Bill, I haven’t done anything other than an occasional illustrative sketch for 70 years now and only one other picture survives from my “artist” days – a cityscape in oil. If Len is willing, I will send him a copy to post here for you.
Len couldn’t post it here in the comments, so it has been added at the end of the article.