Today’s topic is Francine Fact #6 – She Resumed Painting Once Widowed
Howdy to the newbies and welcome back to the regulars!
This month at Just TypiKel we’re doing a 10 day Francine Fact challenge to honor my late mother’s impending 102nd birthday. What’s the challenge all about? Sharing some of the unique Francine tidbits that made her special. She’d expect nothing less.
Yesterday’s post was about Francine’s generous nature. She loved to “share the wealth.”
Okay – I do hope you’re not feeling swamped with the daily posts. We’re halfway through. Today, I’m easing up as I believe Francine would like her work to speak for itself.
Francine Fact #6 – She Resumed Painting Once Widowed
Francine’s reaction to our dad’s death after 61 years of marriage was not unexpected. She still had plenty of energy at 84. We weren’t surprised when she announced she wanted to paint again. Our mom stopped some sixty years earlier when life became too busy.
I touch on Francine’s remarkable careers in Never, Never, Hardly Ever and will spare you the details here.
Please just feast your eyes on a few of her efforts.
As you can see, she didn’t limit herself to one subject. I asked how the ideas arrived and she replied, “Some from photos, some from what I see out the window and some just pop into my brain.”
The woman created dozens and dozens of remarkable works of art since 2006. They are in collections throughout North America and Europe.
Francine carefully chose which of her paintings would go with her into care.
“They’re my friends and they make me happy. I’ll be alright if I have my friends with me.”
Her paintbrushes are at rest now.
Thanks so much for hanging out with me.
Before you go, you should know I’m holding a contest!
On September 26, Francine’s 102nd birthday, one of my subscribers will win: an autographed copy of Never, Never, Hardly Ever – A Mother-Daughter Story of Antiques and Antics – my behind the scenes peek at life with Francine in her Vancouver antique store.
How do you enter? Just leave a comment here. That’s it. One comment = one entry. Already have a copy of NNHE? Gift your win! It’s one less thing you need to shop for.
So, please, leave a comment and I’ll throw your name (and it is?) into the draw.
Tomorrow’s post is about the time she witnessed a bank robbery and helped capture the suspect … Honestly, you can’t make this stuff up.
See you tomorrow!
7 Responses
I love seeing her paintings, thank you so much for sharing ! She had such talent, and I love her use of colour, and the diversity of her work !
And thank you for being such a loyal follower, Jane. You’re the best. Truly.
I love seeing the paintings! Her use of color is compelling!
She’d love that you think so, Amber. And I know she’d love to see your work.
“I’ll be alright if I have my friends with me.”
This sentence really choked me up. I think it’s because it represents such a full life that swept by so quickly. She took or retook up painting in her 80s after living a very full life. How many interesting chapters to her life and when she was facing what had to have been one of her biggest changes she wanted to bring works born of her creativity after loss. What an amazingly optimistic and brave approach. God I wish I met her…but in many ways I feel as if I have.❤️
Aw, Susan, thank you. I’m choking up here myself. Your insight about Francine is spot on. She embraced positivity. I’m convinced it’s what enabled her to live to 101 despite multiple health issues. She never complained, just got on with it.