As I’m trying to teach myself to draw, I’m becoming more and more appreciative of the skill involved, especially in portrait drawing.
This portrait is of yours truly when I was about 3 years old.
Now that I’m a mother, I can identify with my own mother’s desire to capture the sweetness of a childhood face. I wish I could draw something like this of my own children!
My Grandmother still remembers when this portrait was done. She and my mother were in a local shopping mall in Austin, TX, during the summer of 1977. They came upon a stand advertising charcoal portraits for a few dollars. The examples of art that were displayed must have impressed my mother because, even though it was my nap time, she decided to have me sit for my portrait. Grandmother remembers that I kept nodding off as I sat on the stool. My eyes kept drooping closed as the artist worked…
You’ll just have to take my word for it, but this is exactly how I looked at that age. It is an incredibly accurate drawing. I’ve often wondered if this talented artist that was drawing portraits for a few bucks in the mall that day is still drawing?
Yes, she is. I found Mitsuno Reedy on the web and she is now an extremely accomplished artist. She paints the portraits of governors, judges, and many other high-ranking officials, in many different spheres of life. She’s even painted the portrait of the famous opera singer Luciano Pavarotti!
I’m so grateful that, even in her day of instant Polaroid cameras, my mother appreciated the timeless quality of a hand-drawn portrait.
Little girl, I remember you so well at that age. You were just adorable! You were always dressed impeccably and so prissy! Even at that age, you knew what you liked and disliked. You kept your toys immaculately preserved in their original boxes. You have always taken extremely good care of the things and people you love. Your Mom would be so proud of you today!
Thanks, Floy! I’m glad you remember me as an adorable little girl, because I know I wasn’t a very sweet teen! As you can imagine, I’m really missing mom this week-it’s hard to believe it will be 7 years tomorrow. Sure wish we could’ve had more time. Thanks again for your sweet words and memories 🙂
this is perfectly done, how wonderful to have that skill!
What a beautiful drawing of you ! Did you contact
the artist? She would love to know you cared enough to track her down and how special this
piece is to you. I love having a friend who appreciates such things.
J
Thanks Jeana! Yes, I sent her an e-mail but haven’t heard anything from her yet! I hope she does write back, though.
A friend of mine just sent me your website as she was searching articles about me. I am the artist who did the charcoal sketches at a mall in Austin, TX, in 1977. Some time ago, I received an e-mail from someone in Austin, TX, about a charcoal sketch I did, and replied to her right away because I was so happy to know that the drawing I did was treasured by someone all these years, and I hope it was you. I never have taken any photo of my sketches at the mall, so seeing the little girl’s drawing is like seeing my old lost friend. Thank you for posting it and sharing it with others.
Ms. Reedy, it was me who contacted you a while back. I still have your email reply that I’ve attached to the back of my charcoal sketch for my ancestors’ reference when I’m long gone. I cherish the sketch of me as a teenager and distinctly remember my sister and I spending our “mall” (Northcross Mall in Austin, Texas) money on our sketches for my mom’s birthday. She framed them and they hung on her wall until her death. Now they are hanging on my wall, forever cherished. Thank you!!!
Hi Linda,
That’s so wonderful that you still have your Reedy portraits of you and your sister! I can only imagine that they are just as beautiful as mine is. I don’t know if Ms. Reedy will see your reply on here, but I hope she will. I like your idea of attaching the email to the back for the benefit of those who may not know the story behind them. Having meaningful information about family objects is priceless! ~Scarlett
Hello there. My grandmother still has a drawing that Mitsuno Reedy did of my aunt in the early-mid 70’s hanging on her wall. My grandmother also explained to me that they found her at a local shop. I decided to look up her name and came across this post. So cool.
That is cool! Thanks for sharing!