Angel In Waiting

The inspiration for "An Angel in Waiting" is the fact that I am the proud father of three. I began sketching the angel at the hospital while my wife was in labor with our youngest child. Rocking a sick or restless child in the wee hours of the night is one of the most precious moments a weary parent can experience. Gazing at the angelic face with the moon casting light through the window upon its tiny cheeks and listening to the restful inhaling and exhaling as the baby slumbers makes one forget all troubles. I have never been able to express that feeling in words, but I hope to stir such memories within those who have experienced this peaceful time with a child.

The objects on the shelf are childhood relics. The stuffed dog was one of my own favorite toys to cuddle while I slept, and the smaller bear belonged to my wife. I included my sister's lamb as well as a treasure belonging to each of my three children. Last, but not least, is a small heart shaped frame holding a picture of my mother, who was responsible for countless childhood memories.

I feel fortunate to have these memories to share. My wife and I not only cherish the joy of the moments, but we have experienced loss as well. No matter what we have experienced in the past or what our future holds, we are both certain that angels walk among us.

Double Trouble

Growing up I often heard older generations speak of the "good ole days" when times were easy and life was simple. I cannot help but to laugh when I see scenes like "Double Trouble" and wonder, "Just what was so simple?"

In the late 1930's and early 1940's, Marion Post Wolcott, working for the Farm Security Administration, traveled around the southern United States photographing rural southern life. She was a photographic artist who was able to capture not only the scene, but the feeling of the event.

Several years ago I ran across a 1940 photograph of her car stuck in a Breathitt County creek. Being so struck by the scene, I decided to see if I could capture the same feeling with my pencil that Mrs. Wolcott caught with her camera. I began the drawing as an exercise in photorealism, never intending to make the drawing into a print. When I finished the drawing I was pleased enough to frame and hang it in my home. Everyone who saw it suggested I make a print. Unfortunately, Mrs. Wolcott died in 1990, but her husband, Lee, was gracious enough to support my endeavor.

I hope you can see the same humor in the picture that I do - the perplexed gentlemen contemplating what to do with a stubborn mule and a stuck car in a "simpler time."

Goat

More information coming soon.

Grandpa's Pride and Joy

More information coming soon.

Johnny Reb

More information coming soon.

Take Me to the River

More information coming soon.

The Fiddler

Lambert Livers, "The Fiddler", was born on February 14, 1926, on a farm in Jessetown, Kentucky. He learned to play the fiddle at the age of ten. By the time he was fifteen, he was playing for local square dances. In all the years since then, he has played for many dances, family reunions, political rallies, charities, church groups, and nursing homes in Central Kentucky. He even played at the funeral of one of his good friends, a fellow fiddle player.

Family and friends are very important in Lambert's life. He came form a family of thirteen children and married Deverial Miles, whose mother gave birth to twenty children. Lambert and Deverial raised nine children of their own and seven of her brothers and sisters after their mother died. He helped support the family by farming, antique dealing, and horse and mule trading.

Love of the land kept him on the farm when others gave it up to seek public jobs. He will tell you, "What a beautiful place heaven must be to top the beauty of the Earth that God has created." This, as well at the love he had for his family, kept him from pursuing a full-time career as a musician. He reminisces, "In the early 1950's I was offered a job playing the fiddle for a band in Texas that paid more than $100 a week, and I turned it down. That was a lot of money back in those days, but I know I made the right choice. My life has been full and good."

Lambert is still playing today because he loves old-time country fiddle music. Occasionally, he participates in competitions in surrounding counties because he likes the chance to get together with other musicians. Winning is not important to him, although, he has won his share of competitions. He will tell you, with a twinkle in his eye, that he even won a few dancing contests in his younger days.

Besides the fiddle, Lambert plays the guitar, banjo, and mandolin, but the fiddle is his favorite insturment and the one he plays most proficiently. He owns many musical instruments. Of the sixty fiddles he owns, one of his most treasured is one that belonged to his daddy, who was also a fiddler.

Carrying on traditions, having respect for people, regardless of their station in life, seeking the simple things - these are what Lambert Livers is all about. You may see him sometime at a community get-together. He'll greet you with a smile and welcome you to join in and have a good time.

The Quiltmaker

Viola Tungate, "the quiltmaker" was born on March 15, 1927, on a farm on Dry Creek in Casey County, Kentucky.  She is the oldest child of seven, born to Ruel and Genevieve Noel.  Viola has been quilting practically all her life.  She, under her mother's guidance, quilted her first quilt at age twelve.  When asked to estimate the number of quilts she has made, she declared, "Lord child, I don't have any idea!"

Viola married Buford Thomas Tungate on November 28, 1945, and she gave him two sons, Buford Thomas, Jr. and Oliver Lemon, both of which live in Taylor County.  Viola and Thomas have lived in several states as tenant farmers in their forty eight years of marriage.  During those years of living away from "home", Viola quilted to supplement her husband's income.  She recalls that her mother used to ship quilt tops pieced by various women to her to quilt, and she would quilt them for four dollars and fifty cents each.  She chuckled and admitted, "I thought it was big money then."

After her mother's death in 1955, Viola and her family moved back to Taylor County where she has been employed as a babysitter, a cook in a nursing home and a housekeeper, as well as helping her husband farm.  Still at the age of 66, Viola annually raised a large garden on the small farm she and her husband own near Acton.  There is not a day in the summer when flowers are not in bloom.

From the Artist
"The Quiltmaker" is the second in my "Americana" series.  In addition to representing yet another dying art form, total hand piecing and quilting, this print has special meaning for me because Viola is my aunt.  In it my Aunt Viola is adding some finishing touches to a "double wedding ring" quilt I had her make as a Christmas present to my wife.  Displayed on the ground are two special quilts, a "nine-patch" baby quilt my Aunt made for our son, Zachary and a "grandmother's flower garden" quilt which her mother had made and cherished.   Beside the quilts is yet another special piece, a sewing box which belonged to my mother.  I hope this print will make you feel some special part of your own family heritage, just as it brings back special memories for me.

The Story Teller

Paul Cox is a story teller. In his sixty-four years he has accumulated a multitude of stories - stories of people long gone, stories of past acquaintances, and of course, stories of his own life.

He may tell you about his being a descendent of the Hatfield clan (the original Hatfield's and McCoy's). He may tell you about his being able to acquire a moonshine still, which belonged to one of his ancestors and his being one of the few people in the United States who has permission from the Federal Government to actually own a still. To this day, Mr. Cox operates his still at fall festivals to demonstrate a part of his cultural heritage.

He may tell you stories of how he, along with Sarah, his wife of forty some years, was able to rear four children working as a carpenter, farmer and antique dealer. His antique dealing began in the late 1940's when he traded a two dollar watch for a muzzle loading shotgun. Since then, he has traded everything from knives, hand guns, Kentucky long rifles, and Indian artifacts, to steam engines and furniture.

Mr. Cox may also tell you how he and his wife organized the Civil War reenactment at the Perryville, Kentucky battle site.

He may tell you how his passion for flying began when his father treated him to a plane ride nearly sixty years ago. From that moment he knew he would someday fly planes. Mr. Cox presently owns and flies his own plane.

In a time when people stare at electronic boxes that feed them stories of little of no meaning, one should seek story tellers like Paul Cox to hear the captivating stories of people, places and things which the history books neglect to tell.