Sketchbook belonging to Harold King Newman - my paternal grandfather
Influences on my love of art: my paternal grandfather
I chose my ancestors well as a large number of them were craftsmen and women - working and earning a living with their hands.
Today I want to introduce you to my paternal grandfather - Harold King Newman (Lunn) who no doubt inherited his artistic skills and love of art from his biological father William Lunn - one of the founding fathers of Bendigo, the gold mining town in Central Victoria, Australia.
My biological great grandfather, William Lunn ran a Paint and Paper decorating business in Bendigo in which my grandfather (King Newman) worked until his tragic death in 1915 at only 34 years old - leaving a young wife and three little children. His father William Lunn continued to pay his salary to King's wife until his own death a year later in 1916.
Not only have I inherited some lovely creative dna from my great grandfather and grandfather but I have my grandfather's sketch book - examples from which I am going to share with you today.
I have inherited creative juices from this branch of my family tree but also a love of animals particularly horses and dogs. And so let me commence this showcasing of my grandfather's sketches with his drawings of animals.
My Grandfather Newman loved to sketch houses and I have followed very much in this style enjoying recreating the miner's cottages which pepper the countryside around Bendigo. My grandfather liked to draw something a little more elegant and very much influenced by illustrations he would have seen in English magazines they were getting sent from England!!
In many of his sketches you can see the keen eye of a designer which his son, my father inherited as my father's great hobby was restoring and designing furniture. I have my father's drawing board and drawing instruments amongst my treasured possessions.
To be able to draw the human face and figure is a gift which sadly I haven't inherited but I keep trying. My grandfather was certainly interested in capturing the special look.
And finally for this post about inheriting creative dna, my family on both sides are very keen gardeners which is definitely a form of art and also one I love to indulge in.
If you are interested in seeing magnificent gardens follow these links to enjoy the remarkable garden created by my brother.
My brother's garden: part three
My brother's garden: part four
