Growing up in a small town is an adventure that many city dwellers can't begin to picture. I am thankful I had that experience until I was 17 and went off to college.
For one thing, I was able to recognize most people I saw, and knew most of their names, too. I knew who lived in most of the houses, and also who drove most cars, and waved to all...... My cousins (Dick, Gladys, and John Felts) lived on our street, and extended family (Farris and Patsy Farley) lived nearby also. When eating out in local restaurants, we knew most faces we saw and were friends with all there, including all staff. In most cities, this isn't true.
When making paintings of many San Saba homes and buildings, I have happy memories involving these scenes. Some of these structures are no longer standing, except in my artwork. So, the artworks showing these images bring back sweet memories when the prints or ornaments are displayed.
I grew up with a mother who was painting on an easel set up in our big kitchen, so I though all moms did that. She enjoyed copying old masters, the trend of that day.
Looking back, I see some of my drawings published in the '57 and '58 annuals, a bunch of projects I must have been doing from my beginning due to the support of both teachers, Mrs. Ruth Jones and Mr. Charles Cunningham.
So, what I'm doing now is just a continuation of a longtime habit I enjoy, bolstered by a BA degree from Baylor in art and English; a master's in studio art from Texas A&M at Kingsville.
A publisher in San Antonio found my work and published and sold many thousands of limited edition prints worldwide of my floral paintings. I was "discovered" thru these prints by Happy Rockefeller in NYC who then marketed my originals thru her Empire gallery there. Interestingly, the best sellers there were the paintings showing bluebonnets, probably sold to homesick Texans there! Other galleries in Texas have been great markets for my work also, primarily of Texas scenes. Then my favorite projects have been water color portraits.
Here in New Braunfels for the last 40 years I discovered a good connection thru the Sophienburg Museum. It seems paintings and ornaments of local scenes here are meaningful to many, and prints have been sold thru the museum's gift department for many years. I have also been honored to paint the annual poster art for the annual German market (Weihnachtsmarkt) for the last 10 years.
Many thanks to a happy childhood in San Saba, I still have great connections to many old friends with similar good memories of that place and time (for example: Mike Millican's book about childhood memories with cover illustrated by me!)
.....So, I'm celebrating again this thankful season for all those ancient times that are happy memories!
Jane Browning Felts
Mauldin
New Braunfels www.janefeltsmauldin.com