Dear Alex,

It is wonderful to read about you in an "uncensored" way, through your drawings. It is interesting to see how much detail is already apparent in the very early works. I also see that unlike me who just can't break away from a facination with just the faces and particulary the eyes, you have explored people and their environments. This still holds true for your paintings today. The painting that sticks out the most in my mind is that of your children playing music in a fully "decorated" room.

Thank you for sharing this different type of introduction! Although, I always thought you very a pretty cool lady!

Heidi,

I think that's a great idea!

Thomasin, I hardly know how to respond, but I am deeply grateful for your words. Actually I thought it would be fun to show some childhood drawings because children's un-selfconscious work is so revealing--uncensored, as you say by the adult veneer and polish. I agree it is important not to lose, or at least to return to, the direct expression we had as children.

Enzie, thank you also for saying such nice things. I think all artsts' work must contain those essential distinguishing characteristics from the beginning. Glad you brought up that quote of Heidi's--maybe "childhood portraits" would be a good thread for the Cafe section. Woudn't it be fun to see people's first efforts?

Alex, all of this makes sense with your love for children literature.
Looking back at my childhood I can see exactly the path that led me to paint and I think I couldn't have done anything else except that.
I haven't got any work from my childhood, but I do at least keep many of my children's scribbles, who knows, maybe one day...
Ilaria

Ilaria, it' s sad you don't have any of our own early drawings. I'll bet you were amazing. You seem like the kind of mother (person) who would value her children's drawings. Even if they don't become artists, they will still have fun gong back through them. Neither of mine have shown any interest in being artists (yet) though they are both talented. Whenever we look at their drawings we can see so clearly their personalities and interests emerging in a consistent way.

Alexandra, gave us all a good idea about sharing early works . Since this is unveiling for moderators, I din't know where to post my childhood stuff, so I uploaded it on my blog

I also like to pass along a little message to those of you who are not part of this forum or are unsure about posting your work.

Enzie, thanks, I enjoyed looking at your blog. There's a lot of interesting stuff on it. I like the way you have compiled the women's self-portraits, men's self-portraits etc. Not a bad idea for an art book, unless it's already been done.

What a great thread Alex and I love your drawings. I don't think I have any of my childhood work although I know my sister has some hanging on her wall. She's waiting for me to get famous I think. I do have some of my grandchildren's work and can't wait to see them realize their potential should I live that long. Thanks for sharing!