Meet My Mom

Well, you’ll just have to take my word for it: my mom is a beautiful lady…chic, fit, creative, active and oh so lovely with her pearly hair!  You might not catch that from these sketches made from more photos of that day in September last year.  I really did enjoy working on these drawings…the foreshortening in this one was great fun! Trying to get the expression and “attitude” of the next one was a challenge, but I think I got it.

If you thought my dad was talented…you’ve gotta get to know my mom. She taught me ALL the craft arts I now enjoy…knitting, crocheting, sewing, embroidery, to name a few.  When I was a little girl, I was often wearing dresses, jumpers, and even knickers that she had made for me.  She made quilts from the leftover fabrics, knitted and crocheted afghans & sweaters for us, sewed Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy for me and my brother, made our Christmas stockings, all the curtains around the house, decoupaged, appliqued and all manner of other craft and fine craft wares that she and her crafty friends would sell at markets and craft shows.  I do NOT know how she did all that, but I’m so glad she did…I grew up thinking all this was quite normal. And since I loved making things too, I just soaked it all up.

But when my mom hit the very young age of 40 (or very soon after), tragedy hit.  Unspeakable events which included metasticized melanoma threatened to end her life as wife, mother, full-time Samaritan’s Purse worker, and creative person.  Through the painful events and  hospital trips, my mom began to paint.  Should you ever have a chance to hear the full story, you would be incredibly enriched.  I will not go into it all here except to say that she is a walking miracle.  Through all that occurred in her early 40’s and even through a later bout with ovarian cancer, she has grown into, not only someone with a new outlook on life, but a very fine artist and painter.  Do take the time to check out her work which is represented by Blowing Rock Frameworks & Gallery and by Artsource in Raleigh.

My mom describes herself as being shy when she was a young girl.  Though I think she has shed most of the shyness now, perhaps the desire NOT to be photographed stems from this youthful bashfulness.  Perhaps she’s just being cantankerous:)  Whatever the reason, it’s always fun to try to snap mom’s picture at family events.  These final sketches are drawn from pictures we took a few years back.  They are only a few of a handful of photos we have of her face…albeit asleep on the couch with her mouth wide open!  This is a typical Pat Pilkington pose from about 9 pm til she rouses herself enough to make it to her room to sleep for the night.  We have all affectionately teased her throughout the years about this!  And now, as the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, my own family finds ME in the evening, with my head lolling back and forth, eventually ending up snoring on the couch with my mouth wide open.  Genetics are strong, people!  And I know this well:  what goes around, comes around…:)

0 thoughts on “Meet My Mom

  1. ellen says:

    Behold, your daughters’ futures, mouth open on the sofa! I love it. I don’t know your mom well, but these look just like her–especially the mouth…don’t know why.
    These are incredible Jennifer–what a gift for your folks and your entire family.

  2. Joann Peterson says:

    What a lovely lady. I met her last year and after a few minutes felt I had known her all my life. She has overcome so much and I wish her many more healthy years. I love Jennifer, Randy and the children. They are great friends.

  3. Janene says:

    I enjoyed reading the post about your Mom and seeing the lovely sketches. I bet she is as proud of you as you are of her! Her paintings seem joyful, which fits your description of her.

  4. Dorothy says:

    Jennifer I am a lurker on EDM and part of Cathy Johnson’s group, and I’ve long been an admirer
    of your artwork and your blog. I can see the apple did not fall far from the tree – your Mom’s artwork is beautiful – her subject matter is so lovely as is her palette. What a nice post you’ve written about her! And what a talented lady she is!

  5. Dan Kent says:

    Wonderful, heartwarming post. Your mother’s works are vibrant and beautiful. I think your painting of your mom with the hand up is unique and priceless – it shows such character. I also love the first line drawing you post. Not that I don’t like the others you show – I do, but I have to show some discrimination, right? Wonderful work.

  6. vickylw says:

    Your mom must be such a lovely person — it shows in your sketches and writing both. I play the same “don’t photograph me!” game with our oldest granddaughter who is also shy.

  7. Kim Barlow says:

    Your first painting is a favorite and reminds me of my sister-in-law. Can’t tell you how many photos we have of the palm of her hand. I think I helped change her ways after explaining that her child would want pictures of her to look at after she was gone and asked her if she really wanted to be remembered as the lady with the hand in front of her face all the time. Now she smiles for the camera!

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