Illustrations by Grandpa Charlie
My grandfather didn’t live long enough to see the advent of the internet and even if he had, I doubt he would have cared for it much. He didn’t even like having a TV. He was a stone mason and loved to work with his hands, but he was also very creative, innovative, and an entrepreneur. He patented a new type of plaster he called “durostone” and started his own plastering company. As a kid, I loved to visit the house he built because it was unique in many ways. He created a steer skull design with huge horns in plaster over the garage door and the posts in the basement were plastered to look like tree trunks. Before his plastering career, he served in the Army. He also enjoyed sketching and doodling. My dad helped me track down a couple scans. So for the first time ever on the internet, enjoy some sketches by my grandpa Charlie!
I’ll bet he would have really loved using Photoshop. He was always on the cutting edge of technology when it came to cameras and film. I’ve got several of his old cameras including one that would take 3D slides and an early model Polaroid. He lost his right arm just below the elbow in a construction accident when I was an infant so I always remember him with a metal hook for a hand. He still continued his plastering and sketching and even taught himself to write with his left hand. He passed away when I was 9. It’s hard to say, but I imagine we’d have gotten along pretty well given the chance. I don’t think we’re all that different. He worked with plaster and I work with pixels. So here’s to you grandpa Charlie!
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