The Art Gallery II

  Last evening, I reminisced about two ladies that were prominent figures in instilling the love of art in me during my early years...well, throughout my life.  The watercolor paintings were done by a Helen Vignes and are a favorite acquisition of mine.  They were acquired by hook and crook and will remain in the Little Bayou House for as long as I am here.  I enjoy the paintings and the friendship behind them.  Tonight, I share fond memories of Ms. Helen's dear sister, Ms. Ida.  Although both ladies worked together during their most productive years, you can often see vast difference in their styles.  While Ms. Helen dabbled in mainly watercolors on paper, her sister leaned more toward acrylics on canvas.  Ms. Helen often added a much more whimsical touch to her pieces than her sister.  Ms. Ida tended to lean toward portraying the detail of her subjects.  This is perhaps why watercolors were the medium of choice for Ms. Helen.  Things needed to be done quickly and smoothly.  Ms. Ida could spend more time poking in the fine detail work.

  Ms. Ida (Ida Lapp) was much like her sister, yet, oh, so different.  I have two of her art pieces hanging in the Little Bayou House.  These were acquired much like the ones of Helen Vignes!  One came from a church rummage sale and I was fortunate enough to snag the painting for mere pennies on the dollar!  No one realized that original art could be priceless, if even only to the buyer.  This piece is a tall vase of zinnias.  It appealed to me, not only because of Pop's vast gardens of the flowers, but simply because of the style and colors used.   Deep, rich hues in the background make the blooms really pop!  The piece goes well with the heavy Victorian furniture that fills the living room!  The other canvas is of a blissful, mountain cabin with tendrils of smoke wisping from the chimney.  The idyllic setting brings a certain sensation of fresh air, mountain streams and peace.  This piece hung in the old farmhouse where I spent my childhood years.  Mom gave me the painting a few years before her passing.  

  Ms. Ida was also a family friend for as far back as I can remember.  She would often visit my grandparents who (at one time lived next door to where the Little Bayou House now stands).  Later, she came to the old farm to visit with Mom and, then, years later to our place.  Ms. Ida was not only an exceptional painter, she was also quite the crafter.  One of the fondest memories of Darling Daughter is of Ms. Ida teaching her to make greeting cards.  Elizabeth was not more than five or six years old when the card-making would take over our kitchen table.  The old lady's hands carefully helped the tiny fingers snip and glue the cards together.  Later, she taught Elizabeth to create fanciful "portraits" of Victorian ladies complete with feathered hats and bits of lace.  Their friendship lasted until the passing of the dear lady.  Although Ms. Ida is no longer with us, the love of art and crafting lives on in Darling Daughter.

  The fact that these two ladies took the time to share their knowledge and love of art with two little girls so many years apart is, in itself, pretty amazing.  My love began with the first visit to their home art "gallery" and has spanned a lifetime. The ladies allowed me to bring Darling Daughter to their house to browse the rooms filled with art.  Elizabeth's love was established and was prodded along with the weekly visits from the ladies.  Their sweet ways will be something we always cherish.  One thing I find slightly odd about my four paintings is that there are two still life floral paintings and two of cabin scenes...one of each by the ladies. Watercolor pansies and a bayou scene by Helen Vignes and acrylic zinnias and a mountain scene by Ida Lapp adorn the walls on either side of the french doors!  I smile each time I head outside.  I feel blessed having the art pieces and the memories of these two perfectly delightful ladies!