Dude, my dad is an artist. I mean not by trade (he’s a super-genius math teacher), but both he and my mother sketched and drew for fun during my childhood (in turn art was my favorite subject in school and off I went to get a bachelor of fine arts in NYC). I remember being in complete awe about how my mom drew horses and ladies while I loved how my dad drew all sorts of abstract shapes that filled a page with lines and dots and squares. Sort of like this.
So about a week ago I was standing in the frame hallway thinking about my dad and his awesome drawings and realized that I needed one to frame in honor of him and his super cool art skillz that inspired me so much as a kid. So I called him up (you can see an old picture of him here) and begged him to photocopy one of them and send me the copy in a big rigid “do not bend” envelope. But he did me one better. He sent me the original (!) of what he calls his “best drawing ever” – a super sweet seventies-tastic owl that he sketched in 1972 (when I was negative ten years old).
First of all, I love that dad named him “Owlie” since I’m no stranger to naming my ceramic animals (like this gal). I also love that if you look closely you’ll see that the entire owl is made up of repeating shapes and patterns (totally a signature thing that my dad did in nearly all of his sketches). And everything from the repeated hexagons to the soft layered colors that feel so “authentic seventies” just makes me smile. I know owls are all the rage these days, but I love that my father sketched this guy 39 years ago! Although maybe owls were hot commodities then too. Haha. Everything old is new again.
Anyway, true to my obnoxiously excitable personality, the receipt of this amazing guy got me ridiculously hyper. Stupid-giddy even. I couldn’t bring myself to frame the original (way too precious) so I decided to scan it so I could mail the original right back to dad where it belonged. And since my father had mentioned that he wished he hadn’t cut it down and matted it on purple paper decades ago, I took the opportunity to “digitally restore” his sketch to its original glory by putting it on a while background just as it had originally appeared. I also moved the little signature and date together for the new not-cut-down arrangement while I was at it:
Then I printed it out and popped it into a hallway gallery frame that had something less exciting (a picture of our wedding table, but we already have a few other more beloved wedding pics on the wall so… it got dethroned by Owlie).
Total spent: $0.
I think it makes the entire wall.
And sure enough, when we recently had some people over they gravitated to it and I got to proudly tell them that my father drew it in 1972! Woo to the hoo. Get it? Owl? Hoo? See what I did there?
Anyway, I love me some dad-made owl art. And as many of you know, I also love me some crocheted owl hattage on the bean (she calls this her “hoo hat”). Can my child really be into bad puns at the ripe old age of a year and a half?
With us parents… I think so. Oh and in case you haven’t seen her singing Adele, here’s that link for ya.
Have you guys framed anything that your friends or relatives have drawn? Did you only feel right keeping a copy of it? For some reason the original just feels like it belongs at dad’s house taped up next to his desk like it always has been (I also sent him a “digitally restored” printout, in case he wants one of those). What’s with kids wanting their parents to keep their houses exactly the same for sentimental reasons, anyway?
Psst- We announced this weeks three giveaway winners! Click here to see if you’re one of them.
Keisha says
My 2 year old daughter was singing to Turning Tables in the car today, but she didn’t know any of the words. :) Love how you “restored” the owl. I might do that to some of the things I have from my family! As always great idea!
Michelle says
I have to say I love your dad’s drawing – it’s awesome! If he ever decided he’s like to sell copies please let me know!
I haven’t had the chance to frame anything someone’s drawn me, but I did frame an old mirror of my great-aunt’s that I love: http://sweetsuite10.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/framing-a-memory/
YoungHouseLove says
So pretty!
xo,
s
marianne says
I want a copy!! Are you gonna sell prints? lol Love it!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, my dad is gonna be blushing! I love it.
xo,
s
Mel says
That’s just AWESOME!
Meg says
I have an original piece of art from some friends. My boyfriend and I had our best friends (also a couple) over one night for dinner and drinks a couple of years ago. We were sitting at the table talking and Mike started sketching a portrait of me in pencil just for fun. My boyfriend and I were shocked to find that Mike had some serious sketching skills. His fiance, Ren, is the known artist in their family. Anyhow, Mike got everything done except the hair and gave up (boo). Ren picked up the pencil and finished the hair and added a bit of shading. When I saw what had been drawn I was so touched! I had both of them sign it and framed it the next day. Luckliy, it was on a sheet of sketch paper. (I keep a sketching book out for just such reasons!) It was instantly added to our gallery wall along with the other art and photos hung there. It is one of my favorite pieces!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so cool! Love it!
xo,
s
Julie says
Are you a Chi o by chance? That is the Chi Omega mascot. You would totally fit in. We had crazy owl lamps, etc. around our house in college. Now they are actually cute (like Clara’s hat).
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- John’s little sister Carrie actually is!
xo,
s
Dara says
I love the owl stuff, purely b/c I remember my grandma having it all over her house when I was young, and it reminds me of her since she passed when I was still a little one.
Also, while in college I went to Paris for a semester and one of the guys that was with our group, sketched a picture of all of us standing in front of the Mona Lisa. Its on the back of a printed piece of paper, but I didn’t care. I framed it and have it hanging in my house. He was so talented and had no idea how great he was. I will always cherish it. Especially since I have no idea where he is now.
(Side note: People were buying his sketches off of him, on the streets of Paris, that he was doing for school work. He told our professor he didn’t have any work to show because of it and thought he was going to get into trouble, but our teacher just patted him on the back and said good work.
Melissa says
My younger sister is a Genetic Biology major (scary, right?) and a Studio Arts minor. She is an incredibly talented artist, and I currently have two peacock prints she made hanging in my home. I get so many compliments on them! Shout out to Kelly!
Erin says
My friend Frances is a fantastic artist. My friend Kelly is a huge fan of butterflies. Kelly asked Frances send her a drawing of a butterfly and then Kelly tattooed the image on her back. It was way bigger than Kelly planned but it is beautiful.
Donna says
I love that! Your dad is an incredible artist! Guess we know where you get your talent from!
Christine says
Love it! And, by the way, the photo you linked to of you and your dad when you were younger looks EXACTLY like Clara. Just saying.
:)
YoungHouseLove says
Wahooo! I love hearing that.
xo,
s
Alicia says
My husband took a TON of art classes in high school and in college so we have a ton of random art projects sitting around the house unframed. For valentines day a few years ago I had one of his pen drawings framed and now it proudly hangs in our living room for all to oogle at!
Susan (Between Naps on the Porch) says
Sherry…so cute. What a talented Dad you have! Didn’t leave a comment the other day but just wanted to say Congrats on your book! Soooo exciting!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much Susan! So excited!
xo,
s
JennyB says
Very, very cool owlie! Does your dad still draw/paint?
In that pic with your dad, you and Clara really look alike. I’d seen the picture before, but now that Clara’s a little older, I can see such a resemblance! So cute!
YoungHouseLove says
He does still sketch and doodle! It’s so much fun to look at notebooks around his house!
xo,
s
Robin says
How much for my own digitally restored Owlie???? I think I might love it :).
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- it’s amazing that there’s such a demand for Owlie! I might have to open an Etsy shop for my dad!
xo,
s
Cortney says
LOVE this! My dad has sketched pics of my boys. I framed the ones of my oldest as he is a little perfectionist and won’t give me the ones of my youngest since it is just not yet “right”.
I am thinking of making one part of my hallway a gallery with the sketches plus some old black and whites of my nana’s double wedding with her sis,family portrait of my dad’s parents and grandparents and him as an infant, and of course some pics of my crazy parents back in the 70’s :).
We have also framed in my boys room some of my husbands funky artwork from back when he was bored in highschool and should have been paying attention, matches their crazy red and black rock and roll man cave perfectly. Family arts the best art, especially the kids stuff :)
*Sorry for the seriously long comment…
Meghan, RVA says
Confession time: every time you post a pic of the art on your walls, I check to see if you’ve put up the drawing you bought from my husband at First Fridays a few months back. It’ll show up eventually or it won’t, but it’s kinda fun to watch your walls to see if I’ll recognize anything. :-)
Love the owl, and I love how sentimental you were about restoring it.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I actually got that for Clara’s room! Can’t wait to find the perfect place for it!
xo,
s
Amy C says
my aunt had two small birds that my dad had painted at her house, she was giving them back to him and he didn’t care so much, so i procured them for my office (along with a photograph my dad did and had given me)
Elise says
I just checked out the old picture of your dad – and you look so much like Clara in that picture! Or, rather, she looks so much like you! You definitely win the “who does she look like” contest!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- yesss! I’m high fiving myself over here.
xo,
s
Penny says
Now I’m cracking up picturing you high-fiving yourself…which would look like clapping, I guess!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, yes awkward uncoordinated clapping.
xo
s
kaylan says
love it! it’s so vintage and yet so modern and fits perfectly on the gallery wall.
i have a few things of my parents – several of them were anniversary gifts to my parents from ~35 years ago! they were all things that my parents loved and cherished, but were honestly tired of seeing/dusting everyday. they are happier knowing that the item lives on in my house and are truly loved and appreciated once again. and of course if they ever wanted the thing back i’d be more than willing to send it their way.
random question – did you ever update about the door handles spray painted orb? i’ve been contemplating painting mine, but just wanted to check in and see how yours are holding up? any regrets? any changes?
YoungHouseLove says
They’re all still looking as good as the day I did it! Wahoo! My suggestion would definitely be to use very high grit paper to cut the shine to make them the most durable though, just to be thorough!
xo,
s
Diana says
Love Clara singing… with a little drum action too!(Not to mention the snapping of the cup at the end…so cute!!)
I’m impressed with how you restored the owl picture. Not sure how you did that, but it is perfect! I’m thinking of all the things that could use restoring here…
HH says
This is such a great idea! I had to comment because I love the idea of using family sketches as art. My husband and I actually went through his old grade school art and there’s a company online that will make jewelry based on childhood art, which we are giving as a Holiday gift to my mother in law.
Miss Scarlett says
You asked the other day if Clara looked like Sherry or John. I couldn’t tell based on the pictures that you have in her nursery. But based on the pictures that you linked to of you and your Dad’s, I would say that Clara definitely looks like Sherry in the face.
But I’m sure that is bound to change over time!
Lesley says
What a wonderful post! Both my grandmothers were amateur painters, so our house, their houses and the homes of all our relatives were filled with their original paintings. The paintings are some of our most prized possessions now that they are both gone. You will cherish “Owlie” forever.
PS– I have a ceramic white owl lamp that I bought a few years ago, named Charlie and a chocolate brown ceramic owl named Henry. ;-)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, Owlie and Charlie and Henry sound great together!
xo,
s
Michelle says
I love owls!
Last week we were in Pottery Barn and I immediately saw an owl christmas tree topper. We didn’t see anymore in the store so we asked about it and they said they could order it online and ship it for free to our house. They checked online and they were sold out! So the lady asked the manager if she would sell us the last one on their tree and she said yes!
So owly is at home on our Christmas tree!
YoungHouseLove says
Sweeeeet! Love when things work out like that!
xo,
s
Caitlin @ Desert Domicile says
Man your dad is talented! I love Owlie, he’s such a great addition to the gallery wall:)
shelby@honeysuckle says
That is so awesome! I love how personlized your wall is. It makes me happy that it’s right next to the ‘squeeze the day’ print…which I totally copied: http://honeysuckleblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/copycat.html
YoungHouseLove says
So cute!
xo,
s
Nadine says
Love the owl! I also adore that picture of your first house. I’m trying to find the link to where you got that, but I’m not having any luck. Could you please post where you got it from? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Here’s that link for ya: https://www.younghouselove.com/2011/06/daddy-daughter-a-deal-or-two/
xo,
s
Shannon (in VA) says
Owl My Gosh! (omg)
What a hoot! (harhar)
Now I totally want to pull out the 1970’s owl art my mom gave me back in the day. Everyone had the owl art, right? The momma owl and baby owl prong that was glued onto a “natural” looking piece of wood and shellacked. Your dads art is much better though, so cool to have that for Clara to enjoy.
And I never want my moms house to change, i love the nostalgia of going home. So hypocritical of me though since I change things around so much, i wonder if my child will get that nostalgic feeling when she gets older.
Liz says
My uncle drew a series of pictures he called “Elephanuts” for my mother back in the 60/70s. They’re of elephant-esque creatures doing musical things like playing the guitar, playing with staff music, etc. My uncle is extremely talented in art…it’s almost a shame he went and got a doctorate in math :P
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- sounds exactly like my mathy dad!
xo,
s
Lauren says
My little brother is an amazing artist and I have a bunch of his drawings from when he was six or seven. I might just have to frame one now.
I used to fancy myself a caricature artist in my younger days. Until a couple of years ago I found some of the drawings that my parents had saved and was all “These are…..not good.”
Sarah W. says
Many years ago as my grandmother’s eye site was failing, she still did some art, paintings, sculptures. I had a floral colorful painting she did just leaning against a wall in my high school/college bedroom b/c the colors matched my bedspread beautifully. Then, when we bought our house and painted our kitchen teal, I told my husband I was going to pay a pretty penny to get it officially matted and framed and now it sits in my kitchen – its awesome! It almost makes me want to explore my parents basement further to see if I can find some other gems for decorating our house :)
Lola says
I love it! So Cute!
elle C. says
When my mom died last year, I was left with all of her colored pencil drawings – mostly huge close-ups of flowers. She was really talented, but her style wasn’t totally my thing. But as I was redecorating our girl’s room in a vintage garden theme, I came across one of her drawings that was just perfect for my girls to have. She had taken a photograph of me when I was 3 in a white dress walking down an aisle for my preschool graduation, and re-drawn it as though I was walking through a garden. I had a large oval Ikea frame that nothing else fit in, but her drawing fit perfectly and already had an oval outline! It’s such a special picture for three generations of us girls – drawn by my mom, a drawing of me, hanging in my daughters’ room. My 2 year old may not remember my mom, but she’ll at least have a part of her to grow up with.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw that’s so sweet! How special!
xo,
s
bekah says
As the artist of my family- I consider it an insanely huge honor to have one of my paintings hanging over my parents fireplace. I love knowing that the painting is being cared for and loved by someone else. I expected my dad to just hang it in his office or some out of the way place where no one else would see it.
I have plenty of my own paintings- some are so precious to me that I wouldn’t let them live anywhere but where I could see them every day but others are just looking for someone to love them even more than I do. It’s not unheard of for me to take one off the wall and send it home with someone who loves it as much (or more) than I do.
It’s wonderful to feel like something you have made is appreciated/noticed/loved :)
Heather says
This is the sweetest post- I love it!
Rebecca says
I think your dad should consider selling the digital form on the web! My mom teaches 2nd grade at a school where the mascot is the owls and I’m sure she’d love if I bought one and framed it for her :).
YoungHouseLove says
Can’t believe the demand for Owlie! Love it! And I’m sure dad will be super flattered!
xo,
s
Jackie says
Aw I love Owlie! I bet he could sell prints of him on Etsy :)
(And owls were even more “in” in the 70s then they are now.)
Diana says
I love Owlie but your photos made me remember your first house illustration. Can you remind me who the artist was? I searched but couldn’t find the post. My husband and I are moving in January and I think I want a picture of our first house for Christmas.
Thanks and keep up the good work. Love your blog.
YoungHouseLove says
Here’s that link for you: https://www.younghouselove.com/2011/06/daddy-daughter-a-deal-or-two/
xo
s
Renee says
I love Owlie! He’s such a great addition. My sister has some pretty mad art skills. She loves to draw and do photography. I actually have a sketch of flower hanging in my half bath and a photo of the sun behind some clouds on my nightstand that she took. Probably the best pieces of art ever!
Adrienne says
Mad props for the “Who Dat” reference, coming from a relocated Virginian here in New Orleans Saints country!
Lisa in Seattle says
!!! That owl is the jauntiest little guy ever. Are you weirded out that so many of us would buy a card or print of him? I hope your dad takes it as the compliment we mean it to be.
No framed art, but my father-in-law experimented with silversmithing and we have a handful of his pieces (little bowls and vases). I love them but sweet lord, the tarnishing.
Clara is rockin’ that look hard. You go, girl!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love it! And I’m sure dad loves it too. Can’t wait to call him after school’s over (he’s a math teacher) and hear all about his new art aspirations. Haha.
xo,
s
Becky says
Just saw “Owlie”, your printer looks like it does a great job with color and quality, what kind of printer do you have? is it wireless?
YoungHouseLove says
It’s an HP PhotoSmart. Love the quality although being wireless sometimes it’s quirky and can take a moment.
xo,
s
Jennifer says
Very Cool!! Love the hat also. My son has one like it and he has grown out of it, so sad.
This wasnt anything drawn but it was an old photo I “restored.” I have a coworker that wanted a pic of her great grandmother photoshopped. It was from the 1930’s I believe and she was sitting on the ground all proper like they did in the old days. She was beautiful! But there was an UGLY barn inthe background. It was not cool ugly, just plain ugly. I photoshopped the mess out of it, got rid of the barn, did a few contrast adjustments and removed a few blemishes. My coworker framed it for her moms Christmas present that year (the grandmother had past away years ago).
YoungHouseLove says
Such a thoughtful gift! I love it!
xo,
s
Emily says
My dad passed away when I was nine years old. Even though he was not an artist he was a musician. For a while I’ve been wanting to create a wall like yours and the main piece I keep seeing up on my potential wall is a white square frame with my dad’s guitar pic in the middle. Growing up we didn’t really keep pictures of him up on the walls because it was just too depressing (his death was pretty tragic) and most of our pictures are of the family (small children and a married couple that got divorced…) Anyway, look at those pictures just never feel right. But I feel that placing his pic up on the wall is a way to remember him without having to be reminded of what was lost while he was here.
YoungHouseLove says
So special and meaningful! Love it.
xo,
s
Jessica says
Just thought I’d let you two know that I think you are INSANELY talented and creative and a HUGE inspiration! It’s so obvious you’re so smart in both left brain and right brain ways. And I love that this post proves you get it from your parents! I’m sure you’ll pass it on to Clara. Keep up the great work!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks so much Jessica. You’re so sweet!
xo,
s
Carolyn H. says
My dad was an art major in college, but hasn’t done much with his degree (except for draw with me when I was a kid). All his college work has tremendous sentimental value to me. Last Christmas, he gave me a painting that’s been one of my favorites for years. We hung it above the fireplace and used the colors in it as inspiration for the whole room (kind of like your Sue The Napkin). I absolutely love it.
Heidi P. says
I could totally see that owl in some IKEA graphic fabric. It just looks so Scandanavian. I love the pattern to it.
p.s. As for Clara’s love of giraffes – have you seen the giraffe stuffed animal with HUGE eyes? So so cute. (There are other ridiculously cute huge-eyed animals too, like chihuahuas…) I got some at Hobby Lobby, but I’m sure they sell them other places too. It’s the Ty brand.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- yes! They’re so cute!
xo,
s
Pamela says
I’ve been delaying framing a drawing that my son got from one of his 5 year old friends on his birth day ( a dinosaur), I love your blog because it always gives me that last push to finish a project. Thanks for the motivation.
Laura says
What a coincidence, because I am waiting right now for a framing shop to finish framing an etching my dad did when he was an art major in college. He studied fine art in New Orleans (UNO) and his medium was etching & airbrushing, but he also has all these other random pieces he made, because as you probably know as a former art student, you experiment with lots of materials. So I have a beautiful sculpture of his that has floated around my house for years. And now I’m going to have the coolest etching over my fireplace. Yay for artist dads (and their free art!). Hmm… and my mom is a writer. How did I become a mathematician? (insert joke about wanting health insurance and a retirement plan!) Haha!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, too funny!
xo,
s