Fathers: June 13-20 2024
Honor Father’s Day by choosing one of two art options about your father or a father figure in your life: You may either write an ode to your father (figure) or create a portrait (realistic or abstract) of him.
The Submissions:
by Captain Quillard
My father.
Parts of his past left behind a long time ago - his home state, his family’s Catholicism, his time in the Navy - none of them playing much of a role in his life now, but still part of the foundation of who he is.
A brain mostly consumed by undiagnosed but ever-present anxiety about virtually everything. Cautious and concerned and afraid and subdued and on edge and calculating every possible permutation of what could go wrong, leaving him trapped and restricted and fearful. A dark and hard-headed default that he has to work to overcome.
A mind that is always willing to help, lending a hand to neighbors and family and strangers and others with whatever project needs assistance and fits within his skill set.
A homebody. Despite having traveled far and wide in the Navy, he now would almost always prefer staying home to going out, being alone to socializing, eating in his kitchen instead of a restaurant, and staying in his comfort zone instead of venturing somewhere new and frightening.
A stereotypical dad in the areas of suburban lawn care and tools, and a stereotypical suburbanite in that he is constantly monitoring all behaviors of the neighbors and constantly wants to know what they are up to. Keeps track of when they mow, when they come and go, things they do which he finds odd, etc.
An anal-retentive and possibly obsessive-compulsive person who can’t stand clutter, needs things to be neat and tidy and clean, and keeps very particular routines like having cereal for breakfast every day and setting it out the night before, arranged nearly with a paper towel, spoon, bowel, and coffee cup.
A person with a great sense of humor who likes to laugh and likes to tell stories that make others laugh.
A man with two hearts - one that feels arid and closed off, and is rarely comfortable expressing love and other feelings; and another that is so full and kind and creative and thoughtful, coming up with indirect ways of showing love and letting you know he cares.
A person who would not consider himself an artist, but has found artistic ways of expressing his creativity, especially through his woodworking hobby. He is entirely self taught in woodworking and in his handyman skills, willing to tackle and figure out nearly any project.
A man who is probably not bipolar, but still seems to be fun and energetic and great to be around about half the time, and moody, glum, tired, irritable, and able to suck the energy out of the room the other half.
A former self I know only through stories, who I find difficult to reconcile with the man I know now. His childhood and early adulthood filled with pranks on nuns, skidhopping on the bumper of passing cars, stealing Coast Guard boats, skinny dipping in the bay, jumping off bridges, drinking, partying, and a million other things I can’t begin to picture him doing now.
This is Bob. This is my father.
by Anonymous Frau Redux
How to describe him?
Salty, damaged, did his best-
A work in progress
A baby boomer,
Second generation “pole”
Grew up without gold.
Blue collar worker,
Holding us all together
In steel toed leather.
Juggling the circus-
Spouse, kids, parents and more stuff-
Sometimes it was tough.
A lot goes unsaid.
He stuck with it- good and bad.
Raise a beer- to Dad.
Next Week’s Assignment:
Experiment with the technique of Pointillism to create artwork through dots of color, using paint, marker, or another medium.