Because I'm so proud ...

... I'm going to show you a few pictures of my dad (68) and some of his paintings and wood carvings. I don't know why, but I don't have that many of his art or even good pictures, because I never thought to take pictures of it, since it was always there.

Today was the last day of his show, which lasted over the last two weeks. My dad is a retired police officer. Before his retirement he was the Chief of Police in my home town. He was always very creative and only had to choose a profession other than being an artist, because, you know, artists, unless very well known, don't live that well. But he never stopped painting or wood carving, it was always a passion of his and still is. Although working with the wood working tools is not as easy as it used to be, since his fingers on both hands have arthritis and gout.

This summer he bought himself this moped, another life long wish was fulfilled, just for joy rides to places, which are too far to walk. I think he's smart and realized that one lives only once and it could all be over so quickly! ;o)

This carved birds were a great hit at the show, he sold them all and could have sold many more. (This is just a picture of a few, he had many more.) In the picture above you can see him standing next to his bird tree, full of all kinds of different birds, they all looked like the real ones.

For a long time he carved religious figures like the virgin Mary with child and Jesus C. on the cross, and Saint Barbara and so on. He made so many different things, it's impossible to recount them all. And now, that I think about it, I start to remember things he made, that I had forgotten. For example he made wonderful wood inlay work as well, a table top, small objects like boxes and very impressive the ceiling for one room. I don't know if you can imagine that. He also painted on furniture, like it was the custom in Austria with the peasantry, very rustic, flowers and all. He of course had to restore many pieces before he could paint on them.

I'm real sorry, that I don't have more and better pictures to show. I love his oil paintings and have one over the mantle piece. It was made the year I was born, in 1964. I would have liked to upload it, but blogger will not allow it. He gave away most of his paintings, some he sold.

He worked a long time in preparation for this show, and I'm so glad that people liked it. It was certainly a great and rewarding experience for my dad.

I'm proud of you, dad!