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| "Fish Market" 18x22 acrylic on canvas |
What do you think of when people say “roots:” that it’s time to recolor your hair? that your newly planted vegetable garden is bursting into life? Or do you think of your child’s stubbornness when he or she plants those tiny feet firmly on the ground and shouts “No!”
For many of us the word
roots means family: the people who have gone before us (ancestors) and the
people who will come after (descendants). A wonderful new program on the Public
Broadcasting System (PBS) is called “Roots.” Produced and directed by Henry
Louis Gates, Jr. the show “explores race, culture, and identity through the
genealogies and family histories of famous people. The ‘who we are’ and ‘where
we come from’ is at its core.”
The show is scheduled on
Sunday nights at 8 p.m. EST. We have been enjoying it for several weeks at our
house. It’s amazing to see that as we go back in time, we are all connected in
some amazing ways. It touches my heart to see people find their roots, understand
themselves better, and gain a new appreciation for those who have gone before.
The show is emotional, surprising, and climactic. When the trail of family is exhausted,
DNA evidence reveals additional information on country of origin.
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| "Innset Kirke" 11x14 oil on canvas SOLD |
My love for painting
Norwegian scenes comes from my own Scandinavian roots in Sweden and Denmark,
and my husband’s strong Norwegian ties as a direct descendant. His family comes
from Stavanger and Skudeneshavn. Some of his ancestors were buried at the old
Innset Kirke. His great, great grandfather was a lighthouse keeper for many
years at Vikeholmen.
The family loves to tell the
story of the beautiful nude young woman who would swim in the waters around the
lighthouse. Eventually they were married. That’s one way to catch a husband! I would love to get a hold of more information
on the lighthouse and how long his great great grandfather cared for it.
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| Work-in-Progress -- Vikeholmen Lighthouse underpainting |
I have two versions of the
lighthouse that I’m going to paint. Of course, the original lighthouse is no
longer there. An electronic machine has taken its place, but the area is still as
beautiful as ever.
In Sweden, my great great
grandmother baked pastries and sweets before sunrise and then sold the tasty
treats on the city streets. She did this for many years.
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| Drawing for 2nd Vikeholmen Lighthouse painting 16x20 on canvas |
One of her jobs as a young
girl was to fill the vinegar jar with vinegar, a precious commodity, from a
neighboring farm. Returning one day, she decided to shorten her walk by cutting
through a pasture. Unfortunately, a bull ruled the grounds and decided to
charge her. The vinegar jar was broken as she ran to climb over the fence. She
received a sound scolding from her mother when she got home.
It’s fun to go back in time and
research one’s family, if only for the stories. Better yet, gather the stories
while your relatives are living. Their courage and strength in the face of
difficulties is food for inspiration. Even if one generation fails you, there
is always another one that may surprise and enlighten.
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| "Skudeneshavn, Norway" oil on 16x20 canvas SOLD |
The "old wooden village" above can be entered by land or water. Many festivals occur in the bay and people arrive by boat.
I hope you've enjoyed my completed
African acrylic painting: “Fish Market,” my other Norwegian paintings, and my “works
in progress.”
