Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Soaking It All In

I have vivid memories of being with Grandma Chase when I was a child—the smell of the lotion she used on her skin; the feel of her kiss and the sound of her voice when I half woke to her late-night arrival at our home one time; her reassuring acceptance of my need to get out of bed two minutes after getting in, to go pee one more time; her sitting with me while I wrote a letter to a friend, helping me with spelling, and teaching me what a paragraph was and when to indent.

Now I am a grandma myself—Gma (/ˈ/), to be precise. On the first weekend of July I stored away a new little cluster of memories when I played in my studio with granddaughter Caroline—the smell of the shampoo she uses; the feel of her beside me and the sound of her voice as we chatted about this and that; her engagement in my painting process; her making decisions with me about color and composition, helping me cut and glue, and teaching me who she is and what she thinks about.

Birthday Pyrotechnics
3x4"; acrylic, pencil, water-soluble crayon, and ink
abstract
2017
[gift]



8 comments:

carol edan said...

One of the great gifts we have are the bonds and memories we form with our grand kids. These memories will last with them and will be passed on. Love the bright and happy colors dancing without a care in the world.

Sheila said...

So lovely for you to share a peek at your joy with us Dotty. I have a sudden taste for funfetti cake, well, any cake would do! LOL
Don't you think it is wonderful, how many names there are for grandparents?!

dotty seiter: now playing said...

I do love knowing that the connection I have with my granddaughters, currently 10 and 7, will live on with them and be passed on.

I was happy to play with this painting with its lack of a care in the world. My flowers-in-vases series started out carefree but shifted into fussier work than I seem to want to be engaging in.

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Always happy to share joy rather than complaints (I'm pretty good at whining!). Let me know if you indulge in some cake, Sheila!

Even better than my grandmother name is my husband's grandfather moniker: Papawi. He was so dubbed by Caroline out of nowhere when she was maybe 2 y.o.

Lola (Jen Jovan) said...

what a perfect moment...I feel so grateful to have had a peek at it! These halcyon snippets in time are precious treasures. That's IT! I need a grandbaby fix. (btw - LOVE the art! So innocent and vibrant!)

dotty seiter: now playing said...

I love being IN those moments with my granddaughters and at the same time being just enough outside-looking-in to be awesomely appreciative. When will you get your next grandbaby fix? Thanks for the innocent and vibrant feedback : )

Joany Kendra said...

I love the happy colors in this, I love picturing you and Caroline discussing it. : )

dotty seiter: now playing said...

Thanks, Joje. We had the best time hanging out together. Caroline was just so totally into every bit of every step, 'soaking it all in.' Really fun.

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