Dude, my dad is an artist. I mean not by trade (he’s a super-genius math teacher), but both he and my mother sketched and drew for fun during my childhood (in turn art was my favorite subject in school and off I went to get a bachelor of fine arts in NYC). I remember being in complete awe about how my mom drew horses and ladies while I loved how my dad drew all sorts of abstract shapes that filled a page with lines and dots and squares. Sort of like this.
So about a week ago I was standing in the frame hallway thinking about my dad and his awesome drawings and realized that I needed one to frame in honor of him and his super cool art skillz that inspired me so much as a kid. So I called him up (you can see an old picture of him here) and begged him to photocopy one of them and send me the copy in a big rigid “do not bend” envelope. But he did me one better. He sent me the original (!) of what he calls his “best drawing ever” – a super sweet seventies-tastic owl that he sketched in 1972 (when I was negative ten years old).
First of all, I love that dad named him “Owlie” since I’m no stranger to naming my ceramic animals (like this gal). I also love that if you look closely you’ll see that the entire owl is made up of repeating shapes and patterns (totally a signature thing that my dad did in nearly all of his sketches). And everything from the repeated hexagons to the soft layered colors that feel so “authentic seventies” just makes me smile. I know owls are all the rage these days, but I love that my father sketched this guy 39 years ago! Although maybe owls were hot commodities then too. Haha. Everything old is new again.
Anyway, true to my obnoxiously excitable personality, the receipt of this amazing guy got me ridiculously hyper. Stupid-giddy even. I couldn’t bring myself to frame the original (way too precious) so I decided to scan it so I could mail the original right back to dad where it belonged. And since my father had mentioned that he wished he hadn’t cut it down and matted it on purple paper decades ago, I took the opportunity to “digitally restore” his sketch to its original glory by putting it on a while background just as it had originally appeared. I also moved the little signature and date together for the new not-cut-down arrangement while I was at it:
Then I printed it out and popped it into a hallway gallery frame that had something less exciting (a picture of our wedding table, but we already have a few other more beloved wedding pics on the wall so… it got dethroned by Owlie).
Total spent: $0.
I think it makes the entire wall.
And sure enough, when we recently had some people over they gravitated to it and I got to proudly tell them that my father drew it in 1972! Woo to the hoo. Get it? Owl? Hoo? See what I did there?
Anyway, I love me some dad-made owl art. And as many of you know, I also love me some crocheted owl hattage on the bean (she calls this her “hoo hat”). Can my child really be into bad puns at the ripe old age of a year and a half?
With us parents… I think so. Oh and in case you haven’t seen her singing Adele, here’s that link for ya.
Have you guys framed anything that your friends or relatives have drawn? Did you only feel right keeping a copy of it? For some reason the original just feels like it belongs at dad’s house taped up next to his desk like it always has been (I also sent him a “digitally restored” printout, in case he wants one of those). What’s with kids wanting their parents to keep their houses exactly the same for sentimental reasons, anyway?
Psst- We announced this weeks three giveaway winners! Click here to see if you’re one of them.
Nicole says
Sometimes I get so excited about your posts that I skim the pictures and then go back and try to read to figure out what I’m looking at rather than starting from the beginning. I totally thought you were talking about John and that HE drew the picture in 1972 while you were -10 years old. I was like “John’s pushing 40?!?!” and then figured it out. Wow. I really need to calm myself down and read things properly from now on.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- too funny!
xo,
s
Skye @ Neathering Our Fest says
Okay this post literally brought me to tears! It made me remember some really cool cats that my mom drew back in the 70s when she was in college. My mother was never the arteest, but she was definitely crafty and creative. Now that she is gone, and since you wrote this post, I realize I probable need to snag those up and hang them in my house. This was a posted at just the right time!
Oh and the owl is absolutely adorable! And “hoo hat?” Definitely some much needed comedy relief by the time I got to the end of this post! Thanks for bringing back some beautiful memories of my mom! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, that’s so sweet Skye! Happy framing!
xo,
s
Keri Beth says
Tears- Coming from a family of amazingly talented artist I am going to look for something that my dad did to put in our new house. This is the best idea. Thanks again S!
Jen says
And did you notice our magazine monogram on the gallery wall behind me? All thanks to YHL!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- love it! And just got through the outtakes. Too funny!
xo,
s
Jennifer Allen says
Hi Sherry,
What an awesome story! My in-laws have a print on their wall that my husband did as a child … its “everyday people, people everyday” and its just a bunch of bubble-like people floating around (if that even makes sense ;)). I keep scheming to plan how I could get it, but now I’m thinking I could just copy it!
How did you “digitally restore” this? Like a photoshop thing?
Love your blog! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! I would copy or scan it (even taking a photo of it without glass – to eliminate the glare) and then bring it into Photoshop (or ask a friend with access to help). As for “digitally restoring” it, I just erased the background in Photoshop and moved dad’s initials and the date to a cluster in the bottom. I didn’t do anything to the actual image though. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Devon @ Green House, Good Life says
Just noticed the framed “Clara” fabric — if you had a more rectangular mat cut for that frame (probably $5), you’d be able to see her whole name. (If you prefer it as is — artsier? — then ignore me and carry on. You guys obviously know what you’re doing.)
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, I love that idea! I just wrapped that fabric around a piece of cardboard that I had and tossed it into the frame with white card stock behind it, so if I wrap the fabric around a better sized piece of cardboard it would look a lot better!
xo,
s
Claire says
We have a collage wall too. I have a pretty postcard that one of my childhood best friends painted in watercolor and sent to me when I was living 3,000 miles from her. I also have some bits and pieces from my grandad, whose second career was as an artist (actually we have 3 other paintings on our wall from home). I really love sentimental art like that!
LauraC says
Awww, the owl is as old as my brother!
carly says
I love walls of frames (like yours!), but especially loved my future mother in laws wall of old family pictures. So I asked her for some copies, found some copies of mine and my fiance and I created our own family wall (all the pictures are wedding pictures, we can’t wait to put ours in the middle next october!) It was fun to see how similar our parents pictures were!
http://thehousethatbuiltusstory.blogspot.com/2011/09/all-in-family.html
YoungHouseLove says
So sweet!
xo
s
my honest answer says
Love it!
Jenna says
I’ve framed so much artwork. I’ve got a painting a blogging friend sent me, from across the country, hung in my office. A painting a friend gave me for my birthday in my living room, and probably 5 paintings by my sister. Gotta love it!
bex says
My mom is a crazy talented artist (who doesn’t even draw anymore!!), and when my Nana (her mom) died, each of us kids got one of the originals that Nan had hanging in her house. The one I got is super-seventies too – a pen drawing of a child frolicking in a field of flowers. It lives in our “future nursery” room, but I might move it to a more light-free hallway to preserve it. LOVE your idea of scannig and re-printing it – maybe I’ll put the scanned copy on top of the original to try and block more light.
Skooks says
This whole thing reminds me of THE OWL, which was this small planter turned pencil cup that sat on my mom’s desk in our kitchen for pretty much my entire conscious life. Awhile back she told me she was finally “over it” and was going to replace it and something snapped in me! I had to rescue it from being thrown away! How could she get rid of it? Did it not faithfully hold the pencils for 25 years? What did it do wrong?!
It now lives in my sewing room . . . I posted about that whole thing back here: http://www.skooksplayground.com/2011/06/operation-sewing-room-reorganization.html
The owl is about halfway down the post.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- so cute! Good rescue mission!
xo,
s
Shannon @ Bungalow960 says
My art class has a shelf full of white ceramic animals I noticed last night, including such animals as a dachshund, a merry-go-round unicorn, and a frog. I should take a picture of it for you, I think you would like it!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha – I’d love a pic!
xo,
s
Patti says
Love the pic and the entire post :)
Darcy says
I love owlie!! Your dad is talented— My doodles never look that great!!!
BUT — I have a SERIOUS problem with this post…WHY did you have to do the math and say that 1972 was 39 years ago!!! I always say that I’m 35 — and now you have ruined it for me!!!! :-)
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaha- I was wrong. 1972 was actually only 35 years ago. Haha. You’re right!
xo,
s
mary says
If your Dad would consider doing a set of blank cards with Owl, mushroom, troll…etc., I would totally buy them. He’s very talented. Such a cool addition to the wall!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, you guys are so sweet! My dad is going to beam when I tell him there’s a “demand” for his drawings!
xo,
s
Kay says
So beautiful to have a piece of your dad on the gallery wall. But oh man did the bean totally upstage the post lol – and totally killed the end! Im thinking yoy guys have a handy girl turned Singing Diva on your hands!
Amy says
I have a strange obsession with owls lately, in fact our christmas tree is covered in them – I told Boyfriend that it looks like we’re obsessed with birds. He laughed & rolled his eyes.
Side note – Sherry, you were in my dream last night. You & I were neighbors; I called you Sherdog & you helped me move some furniture. Strange, I know.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I would totally help anyone who calls me Sherdog move furniture. Gotta keep the name alive!
xo,
s
Meredith says
That’s too funny—I’m just putting up a gallery wall and I “commissioned” my aunt to make an elephant for it. :) She does all sorts of artsy cards/drawings/etc. and had made me some little elephants in a card once and I asked for a bigger one to hang, since my little one keeps me company at work. I can’t wait for it! Love art with meaning.
lindsey says
totally loving the owl. My dad was no artist, but he was a hippy and was super into photography for a while. While I don’t have any (nor do I think I have ever even SEEN) any of his pictures…. when my parents recently sold my childhood home, they brought me some stuff that they thought I might me interested in. One thing was his super fantastic hippy style camera strap. I LOOOOOVE IT! Definitely one of my “favorite things”.
Debbie says
i was a graphic design/graphic communications major in college & my senior project was pretty awesome (pats self on the back). it was mixed media (not real common in 1989) & when i moved in w/ my boyfriend a couple years later, it went on the wall in the dining room. everyone commented on it, it was a real coversation piece. my bf spoke of it in reverence. he absolutely adored it, but i was still surprised when we broke up 7 yrs later & he asked if he could keep it. i really didnt know what to say. it wasnt the best breakup, most of it being my fault so i felt guilty & i let him keep it. i really thought it was strange that he wanted a reminder of me/us. i further thought it was strange that it stayed on his dining room wall even after he married & moved to a new house. sometimes when im decorating one of our houses, i think, you know what belongs on this wall? that damn art project, but obviously, im not going to ask for it back, nor do i think he’d want to give it up.
Jennifer says
Love this post! I love the owl that your dad drew which reminds you of him and all his inspiration that he instilled in you. I love that you love it so much. The hoo hat cracked me up, it reminds me of Johns “hooos”? I just received 2 pieces of artwork last night from my great aunt that hung in her and my grandmothers nursery. They didn’t create it, but I am soooo excited to hang it in ours! So needless to say your gallery wall and art post are coming at great times for me!
Regan @ RenovatingRothenbergers says
That owl is a hoot! Love it! My husband is an artist (as in, that’s his full-fledge career) – so I love hanging his drawings and sketches all over the house. My brother has a strong affinity for drawing birds and I have several of them framed too. I love personal and sentimental art :) Looks great on your wall!
Lindsey says
John needs to start calling his favorite UVA baseball cap his very own “hoo hat”!!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- so true!
xo,
s
Erin says
My parent’s aren’t great artists but I do have some amazing old pictures of them framed, like when my dad was in the Navy in the 50s and one of my mom in a photo booth when she was a toddler. I think it’s art too.
Kasey March says
Love the new artwork! It’s great that your Dad kept the drawing all these years.
My parents had my first drawing, a very disproportionate face on the back of one of those waitress memo pages, blown up to 8.5 X 11 and hanging on the refrigerator for years. I wonder whatever happened to the orginal?
Do you guys have any of your own original art stashed away inside the house from DIYing days?
YoungHouseLove says
We definitely have some original art of ours on the walls by Clara (two paintings) and also some of mine (just odd photos of Burger with a field of flowers in the background) and even some by John (he drew a hilarious stick figure depiction of a frame falling and breaking my ceramic dog that we later framed) and even have Burger art framed (he did a black and white paw painting a while back). Haha, we’re so weird!
xo,
s
lisak says
Yes, owls were totally a ’70’s thing. Macrame owls, owl pendant necklaces, owl mugs…etc, etc. Owls, owls, owls. Everything old does come around again.
With clothes my rule is if I remember it the first time it came around, it probably isn’t something I need to do again.
Gaidig says
My mom’s an artist, and if she gives me a piece, it’s because she wants ME to have it and enjoy it. A lot of her pieces are filed away in a a cabinet or portfolio in her basement studio, and it would be much better for it to be properly framed on the wall of my house. The walls of her house? Mostly covered in my artwork or family heirlooms.
Ted says
I loved this post and the owl picture. When we just had twins, we found a lot of old craft work that my wife did and had them framed for the nursery walls. One was a plastic canvas owl. We collect various animals and owls are one of them.
Oh, and just a little nit. You said total cost was $0. Note quite. Technically you paid postage to return “Owlie” to your dad (and he paid postage to send to you). But still a fun post and a great addition to the wall art.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- it’s true! But we bought that book of stamps sometime last month and had them sitting around, so maybe the stamp counts as something we already had since we didn’t buy it for this project? Hahaha.
xo,
s
Aimee says
My grandfather passed away this summer (my grandmother had passed 9 nine years prior) so we were cleaning up his house. I found two drawings my grandma had done prior to marrying my grandfather. Probably when she was still in grade school. One was a picture of a young girl drawing and colored with water paint. She even signed the drawing with her maiden name. It was on an old brown paper, but the picture is beautiful. The other drawing is of a house with a yard and it is also colored with water paint. I love both paintings and have displayed them in frames. It means so much to me to have art with a little of personal history to it. I also never knew my grandma could draw so well.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s amazing! What a treasure to find!
xo,
s
Christine Allison says
I love it! The owl looks great in your gallery. Your pride and enthusiasm shines through your post. You are lucky to have it, and Clara will grow up being inspired by it too! I just recently tracked and hounded family members for paintings by my Dad’s family. I can’t wait to display them so my daughter too will be inspired and be connected to her past through art.
Well done!
Katie says
I love it! Looks modern and vintage at the same time. My dad is an artist too – I’m now going to ask him for some orginal art!
Michelle J. says
Yes, I’ve framed friend and family art (and old photos) the DIY way and the professional way! It’s such a sweet way to preserve memories. (In the interest of full disclosure parents are artists and professional picture framers, so I’m not the norm.) A couple of tips for people framing: 1. For really special pieces a reputable framer can preserve original art with conservation quality materials so light and other environmental factors don’t damage the artwork; and 2. if you don’t have a printer, many framers and printing shops have the ability to digitize the art (especially if it’s too big to fit in a scanner) and print it (some are reasonably priced, others are not — always get a quote). This is a nice gesture for the holidays, especially if you have siblings that would like the art, as well.
All that being said, I LOVE your project and always love working with what you’ve got. What a terrific memory you’ve preserved!
YoungHouseLove says
Great tips!
xo,
s
christine says
Love it! Your collections look so level and perfect! What do you use to hang all those frames on the wall? Pray tell – do you have nail holes all over the wall? Or do you spend lots of money on those command non-permanent thingys?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I used paper templates to help figure out the placement of the frames first, and many of them are hung with wire over two nails, so they don’t wobble very much! We do have some of those 3M command velcro strips for frames down on the bottom so Clara can’t yank them off the wall!
xo,
s
Firesparx says
My mom cross-stitched an entire tree skirt with gorgeous victorian-looking angels. I use it under my Christmas tree even though it doesn’t remotely match (my tree is decorated in peacock colours and the skirt is reds and golds). But I love having reminders of how talented my mother is.
BTW, “woo to the hoo” is my new favourite catchphrase!
Eilene says
You totally know how to make a newly pregnant girl get misty eyed. That is the sweetest thing! You have given me so many new ideas of what to add to frames. Thank you!!
Bboss says
“the receipt of this amazing guy got me ridiculously hyper. Stupid-giddy even.”
Um, were you an ADD kid? With the ridiculous amount of things you guys accomplish, I’m beginning to wonder…
YoungHouseLove says
I’ve never been diagnosed, but I’ve always been “high energy” as my mom likes to call me!
xo,
s
MicheleLouise says
My sister gives us a painting every christmas for our house and I have several of her drawings framed as well. I love having original art in my home from a family member.
jodi says
that is so great!!
Eve says
I love, love, love your Dad’s owl doodle. How fantastic! :D Yay for artistic parents!
And Clara’s owlie hat is so adorable. My pal Jooleedoh (@jooleedoh on Twitter) makes super cute owl hats in all shapes and sizes (pics here & here)… I’m totally ordering one for my Cass (though she’s been pretty fond of wearing a John Deere stocking cap lately, lol).
YoungHouseLove says
Cuute!
xo,
s
KC says
This is one of the sweetest posts yet, Sherry. I love it.
KC says
I have to add a comment to my comment. In that old photo of you and your dad….I totally see Clara!
YoungHouseLove says
Yesss! Team Sherry!
xo,
s
Heather W says
DITTO!!!! MAJOR DITTO! I thought the exact same thing totally see Clara in that pic of Sherry!!!!
Jessica says
I saw this and thought of you guys! http://www.designsponge.com/2011/12/owlet-wallpaper.html
YoungHouseLove says
Amazing! And I love that lamp!
xo,
s
raeann says
the only piece of art (GIANT piece of art) in our living room was painted by my sister. it was an art class assignment that fits perfectly with our tastes & style, and she can never have it back, even if she asks! :)
the funniest thing is now she thinks she’s not artistic at all! crazy woman.
Andrea @ the yellow cottage says
The colors in the owl tie in with the red brick in your house painting, and the shapes are similar to the teal patterned fabric and peacock feather above it. And, you know, birds of a feather… =) flock together. I can’t not finish a sentence.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, love it!
xo,
s
Elizabeth says
There is this cute painting/drawing that my dad did in the first grade that was on the fridge at his dad and step-mom’s house until his dad moved out (when my dad was like 40, so cute his step mom was an art teacher and always said that drawing of a funny little man was her favorite work of art done by a child ever). It has been living at my mom and dad’s for years now, for almost as long it has been my secret wish to have it, but I never thought of copying it. I will for sure be doing that this weekend (and maybe I’ll make a copy for my brothers and sister too!). As always thanks for the great decor inspiration.
GreenInOC says
The popularity of owls today is the current generational retro fad – now it’s the ’70’s.
“Give A Hoot – Don’t Pollute!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zpz1k5Mv4o
I know about the 70’s from my hours of READING about it – I wasn’t there or anything like that!!!!! Geesh – I’m not that old (except that I am!!).
YoungHouseLove says
Haha – love it!
xo,
s
katecooks says
looks great! my cousin is a fashion designer, and he sketched me a small piece when he was only in college. i have it framed in my living room entry, and it looks gorgeous! i love having one-of-a-kind pieces like that one!
Wrenaria says
Great owl! I am a fan of any birds as art, though I do happen to be wearing owl earrings and an owl ring today, so I’m accidentally dressed for the occasion.
Good job on the restoration of the piece. Looks perfect. So very sweet of your dad to give up his prized art piece to you. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- I love that you dressed for the occasion!
xo,
s
elaine says
This is GREAT! What talent and what a treasure to have! I love how you restored it as well. Also, when I clicked on the link to see the old pic of your dad I was blown away by how much Clara resembled a baby Sherry! Something about your expression I think but as soon as I saw it I saw Clara :)
Happy December 1st!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw! I love hearing that!
xo,
s