Memories

Is it true that a happy childhood lasts forever?  When my children were born,  a dear friend gave me a little plaque with those very words.  I look at it often as a reminder that what happens during these years will follow my children their whole lives.....good or bad!  I hope it is all good!

Since my last post I set off on a journey of my own down memory lane, remembering the "happy places" from my childhood.  I feel extremely blessed to have grown up the way I did, in a loving Christian home. Money was always tight, but I had both a Mom and Dad who always made sure there was food on the table, a warm bed,  and a safe neighborhood in which to play.  

I thought it would be a great surprise to paint out a few memories and have the paintings made into notecards for my family at Christmas.  I am happy to say that it was a big hit,  and over this Christmas break a lot of fun conversations were started because of them.  Over the next six weeks I will not only be sharing each painting with you but also the great memories they hold in my heart.

I would like to write a few words before we begin about where I grew up.  I grew up in a the little country village of Powdertown.  Here is what I wrote on the back of the notecards that I gifted to my family:

Powdertown was originally built in the 1890’s to house workers from the Du Pont Powder Mill (maker of explosive powders). The Powder Mill closed down in the 1940’s  leaving behind a group of modest homes that would become the setting of my childhood.  The sleepy little village was the idyllic rural Iowa existence, littered with playing children and made complete by the occasional dog taking a nap in the middle of the road.   These paintings are not inspired from photographs , but rather from the everyday places of my childhood, and just to add to the sweetness of it all, I have added my two sister’s in each scene.   

This series is dedicated to my two lovely sisters, Jules and Nell.  Thanks for a beautiful childhood!   Love you  both,  Joey

Powdertown Series:
 Feeding the Ducks (Chatfield Park)

Due to the very explosive nature of the Powder Mill, the Mill needed to be located next to a water source....enter Chatfield Park.  The beautiful lake rested peacefully between the the settlement of houses and the Powder Mill.  During my childhood years, the Powder Mill was nothing more than an abandoned ghost town with a "No Trespassing" sign but the Lake remained and was teaming with life.   The Lake was merely a short walk or bike ride away and every kid in the neighborhood loved being there to fish, swim, catch tadpoles, or feed the ducks.  As a cure for summer time boredom, Mom would let us take bread crumbs down to the Lake to feed the family of ducks.  I loved this activity just as any small child might.  This is a special memory of mine and I so appreciate you taking the time to read about it.

Yesterday I got the chance to visit Chatfield Lake and to share it with my daughter.  She watches me as I paint my illustrations, so I think it was special for her to see where the inspiration for "Feeding the Ducks" originated.  I am happy to say that Chatfield is just as beautiful as I remembered. 

Thanks for reading and I hope that you continue to stop by to see the rest of the Powdertown Series.