I imagine your days are busy with the endless round of chores that go with young motherhood besides sorting, packing and deciding what to keep or discard before your move. One tip I suggest: Do not throw out all the ‘Fridge Artwork’!

Why?

Let me explain by showing you a special piece of Art.

Abstract Artwork – Click to enlarge

The work is unsigned, but dated. Look carefully at the top right corner.

Libby, do you recognise the hand that wrote that date?

The date: 11/3/83 was written by your father’s hand. Thirty one years ago this month.

I supplied the very high class art paper! Not entirely true, but close. Thirty one years ago, we had no PCs in our little world, Jack received reams of printed or typed paper in the mail twice or three times a week, all in relation to his work. The old sheets were scrapped when the next bundle arrived. What a waste.

I suggested keeping the paper and allowing Elly use the pages to draw, write or scribble on. It meant she had an endless supply. One day Elly presented me with a picture that really impressed me and it gave me an idea….

On our next visit to Dublin I had a bundle of spare sheets for Elly to play with. One day, seeing all of her cousins around her, I thought it might be interesting to see what artwork they would produce. I gave each child a sheet of paper to take home and draw a picture for me. I was not leaving you out, so I gave your dad the page.

The work above is you handiwork. Very delicate for a tiny toddler! The colours show better if you click to enlarge the image.

I played with the lines and circles of your piece. First I took tracings, eliminating some and keeping others. Then began the fun of layering the lines until I was happy with the result.

Next with your colours for inspiration, I delved into my craft box. Several pieces of sequin off-cut and coloured tulle were light enough for your touch. I layered them together, worked some free machine stitching before cutting away at the layers to show the different colours and textures. The ink spots from the type on the other side gave me the idea to add beads. And the swans-down & frayed threads were for the softness of a tiny hand.

My interpretation of your art,

Elly’s picture led to the whole idea in the first place. Click on the link to read the story of where that led.