Every year when June rolls around and Father’s Day is coming up, my dad is on my mind. He was always my biggest fan and was always there for me throughout my career. In fact, my dad was even one of my most devoted collectors. He especially loved my Kennywood Carousel Animals paintings, and I created a special framed piece for him that included all four of them.
He was a special guy, and I miss him terribly. Yet there was one thing in particular that my dad did for me many years ago that makes me think of him and smile every single day.
When I was a young girl, I had the misfortune of being the only member of a very musical family with no musical talent. I wanted so badly to fit in, I even took up the violin at one point in an effort to be a part of things. Unfortunately, I was pretty awful at it! No matter how hard I tried, it was obvious that I was an artist, not a musician. But my dad understood.
So knowing how much I loved to draw, for my 16th birthday, my dad made me my own art desk, complete with a built-in cabinet to store my supplies. It just fit perfectly between my bed and the wall in my little 9′ x 10′ bedroom. I still consider it one of the best presents I’ve ever received.
I loved that desk so much that when I got married, I brought it with me to our first apartment. The only place we could squeeze it in was in front of the coat closet, so we had to move it every time we needed to get our coats out.
As time passed, and I got a little older (and a bit more decrepit!), I called my dad and asked him to make me a new “Over 40″ desk. You see, since I had turned 40, I wasn’t as flexible as I used to be, and it was getting harder to lean over the desk with the cabinet underneath. My dad said “No problem!” and simply reconfigured the design so that I could get my legs underneath it, as well making a few other little ergonomic adjustments. I’m still using that desk to this day, and I remember my dad every time I sit down to paint on it.
I would love to hear your favorite stories about your own dad or another man in your life who has meant a lot to you. When you’re looking for the perfect Father’s Day gift for your own special guy, why not choose a gift that will remind you both of happy memories together from younger days? CLICK HERE to shop my website for that perfect gift. I’ll be delighted to personalize something meaningful for you.
P.S. – Don’t miss next week’s blog, featuring the evolution of “Santa’s Workshop,” the newest painting in my Jolly Old Elf series – from start to finish!
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