Childhood Memories

I was commissioned by a book publisher to do this painting for the Christmas Issue of “Good Old Days” magazine. 

I had done some illustrations for other magazines and companies, but never a cover.  They stated they wanted a painting depicting Christmas time circa 1917.  I said, “How would people know it was around that time period?”  The publisher said their viewers were mostly in the age bracket where they would remember that time. 

Everything had to be in conjunction to that period.  The wallpaper was from an actual sample from a manufacture’s magazine during that era.  The Christmas tree wouldn’t have any electric lights on it.  The old clock on the mantle was from my wife’s family.  I had to do a first layout, then a black and white study, and then a final color layout, to be approved by the publisher.  I had three months to finish the painting. 

I remember when I showed the painting to my mother, who was born in 1913. She told me, “You’ve depicted a fairly wealthy family.”  I asked her why she said that.  She said, “Because when I was little, most of the people had ‘white-washed’ walls." 

That’s when I remembered the publisher’s words, “They will know.”

Childhood Memories

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image size  16x22