EYES OF ELSA

people considered junk. After fixing it up and painting, the “antique” would draw peoples’ attention like a magnet . She often sold or traded for another “fix-r- upper” and we kids complained as we “knew” we had to move yet another heavy object. As a result, we learned about antiques, how to bargain shop for deals, move heavy objects from point A to B, avoid mother for short periods of time, but there was no avoiding the inevitable, You were going to have to move it ! As I remember, in the early 70's, we travelled to Nashville in our Dodge truck to pick up hundreds of wooden cigar boxes onto which mother painted various subjects. She sold almost all of them and tripled her money. I, by the way, managed to hold on to one of the last cigar boxes she didn’t sell. It is painted with butterflies and I still treasure it today. Elsa continued painting in just about any media from watercolor to oils. She either sold or gave paintings away to friends and relatives as gifts, slowly making a much deserved name for herself. Eventually she made prints of her best works, selling them along with frames from the frame shops she owned and operated in Ashland City. She discovered that people loved the past; so she concentrated many of her works on historical landmarks and numerous times gave a framed print to new businesses or offices!

In 1957 we moved to Ashland City. Two of mothers younger brothers lived with us and were like brothers to me as well; I enjoyed swimming and cutting up with them as brothers do! In her teenage years two of Elsa’s eldest sisters exposed her to many places and cultural events of which country folk could only dream. Constance Banister, the renowned baby photographer in the 50’s who lived in New York City, and socialite, Edith who resided in Palm Beach FL, showed Elsa the experience of cultural differences not available in the rural Tennessee county of Cheatham. Later, Elsa did the same for her children and I know for a fact that it affected us all positively. It was in the early 60's when Elsa began to paint in earnest when my father entered Law School. There were many hours she spent alone while Jimmy was studying. Elsa had drawn and painted before, but this renewed interest prompted a life long vocation. An accomplished seamstress, Elsa also created her own clothes, became an accomplished chef, played the piano, and would you believe, she even she laid rock walls, remodeled and painted the house! Nothing was beyond Elsa’s reach! She would try anything. It was not unusual to find her sawing the legs off a piece of furniture or altering an antique to fit her artistic style. Often she would enlist or shall I say, draft us kids to pick up, load and unload all manner of things most

Masterpieces

Angels

It brings pride and joy to my heart to see

Animals

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