My dad is an artist — not professionally (he’s a brilliant math teacher), but both he and my mother sketched and drew for fun while I was growing up. Art was my favorite subject, and I eventually earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in New York City. I remember being amazed by my mother’s graceful drawings of horses and ladies, and by my dad’s abstract compositions filled with lines, dots and geometric shapes — kind of like this.
About a week ago I was standing in the hallway looking at our frames and thinking of my dad’s drawings. I realized I wanted one displayed in honor of him and all the creative influence he gave me. I called him and asked if he could photocopy a piece and mail it in a rigid “do not bend” envelope. Instead he surprised me by sending the original of what he calls his “best drawing ever” — a seventies-style owl he sketched in 1972 (long before I was born).
I love that he named the owl “Owlie.” I often name ceramic animals, so it felt fitting. Look closely and you’ll see the owl is built from repeating shapes and patterns — a hallmark of many of my dad’s pieces. The repeated hexagons and layered warm colors give it that authentic seventies feel that makes me smile. Owls are trendy now, but my dad drew this almost five decades ago — everything old truly is new again.
Excited doesn’t cover it — I was over the moon when the drawing arrived. The original felt far too precious to frame, so I scanned it and mailed the original back to him. He’d once mentioned wishing he hadn’t cut it down and matted it on purple paper, so I used the scan to “digitally restore” the sketch to how it had originally appeared on a white background. While I was at it I moved the tiny signature and date to suit the restored proportions.
I printed the restored image and slipped it into a hallway gallery frame, replacing a less meaningful photo. It felt perfect — a meaningful, personal piece that cost nothing to display.
Total spent: $0.
I think it really completes the wall.
When guests come by they’re drawn to it, and I get to proudly tell them my father drew it in 1972. Yes, I do make a terrible owl pun — “woo to the hoo” — but I can’t resist.
I adore any dad-made owl art. We also have a crocheted owl hat that my little one wears — she calls it her “hoo hat.” At a year and a half she’s already into silly puns: kids pick up our sense of humor fast.
With parents, that kind of influence seems inevitable. In case you’re curious, I also shared a clip of her singing Adele elsewhere.
Have you ever framed artwork made by family or friends? Did you keep the original or only a copy? For me the original felt like it belonged at my dad’s desk where it has always been, so I returned it and gave him a digitally restored print. Sentiment often makes us want to preserve our parents’ spaces exactly as they were — I guess that’s part of why family art feels so special.
Psst — we announced this week’s three giveaway winners! Check the original post to see if you’re one of them.