TO DAD
TO DAD
OIL ON STRETCHED CANVAS
12” X 16” ORIGINAL NFS
SIGNED DEDICATED PRINTS AVAILABLE
It has been too many years since I last saw my dad, almost a quarter of a century has passed. As I grow older and become more aware of this world and all of it’s potential dangers I reflect upon my father’s exploits. An honest, simple man who just wanted to love his wife, have a home and raise his family. Yet, in spite of his personal wants and desires, he answered the call to travel far, far from his home to help liberate people he had never met. This country boy, from a town so small that it doesn’t even exist anymore, was destined to fly over major cities of the world and to meet people from places he had never known existed. And so he left his new bride and joined the faceless millions in the greatest struggle of the last century. I can only imagine how he must have felt. You see he never spoke of these perilous adventures, he was as quiet as the Sphinx in the desert, the very same desert that he once flew over.
When we buried him at the military cemetery the undertaker, quite casually, said to me and my mom “did you know that he had 7 bronze star medals”? We both said “no, we didn’t know. My mom said she knew that he was burned one time and refused to seek a Purple Heart and that he had Malaria”. You see he never spoke of those terrible events that he had lived through for those four dangerous years. He would only talk about those friends he had made and especially those he had lost. To him they were, the heroes, not himself.
And so it was for me growing up along side this man, the man I knew as Dad. He worked hard, blue collar, never complained, never missed work and loved his family. The family in which I am proud to say I was a part of.
However, there was a box, in our home, that held within it the hidden treasures from his hazardous exploits. I remember it well. This box was not meant to be seen by my eyes, it was secreted and not meant to be viewed, especially by me. There in this forbidden box was strange foreign money, some empty cartridges, all manner of enemy memorabilia, and most importantly many, many, many photographs. These relics, these photos, told the tale of his long ago secret adventures that he would not speak of. I would sneak into that room, that reliquary, and look at these treasures when my parents where not home. I was a young voyeur into the world that my hero, my Dad, had experienced.
I can only imagine what it must have been like. A cold blue sky filled with clouds that hid so many deadly dangers. Each flight could be his last. And yet, my hero father would climb aboard his potential coffin for those four agonizing years. So, here is my tribute to my personal hero, my Dad. I know that there are many, many other Dads out there that deserve just as much. My wish is that they too feel the gratitude that they so richly deserve. visionary imagist “Joey”
TO DAD belongs to the following groups:
Aeronautics & Aviation and War Available for sale asGreeting Cards
ozjami
Incredible Story ,i can understand with my Grandfather….
Beautiful artwork Joey !!
mlgkats
very wonderful painting,in memory of your dad he would be proud,and so should you
Kym Breeze
Another wonderful piece of art, and the story is great also….
Linda Syms
Well said Joey when will Mans inumanity to Man end.
Antanas
Great work, well done
Happy New Year!
andrea verstegen
your father sounds like some man….and it is true that the ‘real heroes’ of this world are the ones who seek no admiration. this sounds like your father and you must be proud.
Great painting.
Wendy Slee
I have tears running down my face.
Your beautiful art and the story about your Father is a profound dedication that will live forever because you recognized who he was….. Your Father would indeed be as proud of you as you are of him….
bless you.
Woodie
Wonderful tribute to a shy hero. Without America’s help the war would not of been won and the world would be a different place now.
I would not be wishing you all a happy new year for a start.
Cheers Neil
Firedrake
My grandfather fought in North Africa too. I went to the memorial at El Alamein a few years ago – a beautiful and moving place. Love this piece!
funkyfacestudio
What a beautiful tribute to your father.
SNik
Great dedication and artwork. So good to see you here, Joey.
Joyce Dickens,...
Joey, what an amazingly beautiful story you’ve posted here….Your artwork coupled with this is wonderful. I know your Dad would be so proud of you as well Joey….you are passionate and dedicated to your art and to expressing your visions to the world. I am in awe!
Samantha Bla Bla
Joey, what an amazing story you tell, it sounds like you had a wonderful father which is probably where you get your charm from? Your stories are such a pleasure to read so inviting and full of adventure, most of them pull me in so deeply I feel as though I’m there at that time and place. Your visions then become very apparent through the exquisite performance created from your art, mine eyes are ever so grateful for the beauty that I see before me. Thank you for sharing my friend.
VisionaryImagist
ozjami. Thanks my friend. i really enjoy your art as well.
VisionaryImagist
migkats: i am glad that you enjoyed my little oil painting. I am glad that you stopped by to share with me.
VisionaryImagist
Kym: I am a fan of your work as well. thanks for taking the time to comment on my oil and my words.
VisionaryImagist
Linda: Let us hope and pray that it will end soon. thank you my friend.
VisionaryImagist
Antanas: Thank you and HAPPY NEW YEAR to you too
VisionaryImagist
Andrea: Thanks for sharing with me your encouraging words. I look forward to future sharing of art and letters.
VisionaryImagist
Wendy; Bless you and yours too. thanks for your kindeness and your continuing support of my humble efforts.
VisionaryImagist
Woodie; Thanks for your input and HAPPY NEW YEAR to you too. stop back anytime.
VisionaryImagist
Firedrake: Thank you for sharing with me about Grandfather. It connects us and holds out hope for the future. Love your artwork. again thank you my friend.
VisionaryImagist
funkyfacestudio; Thanks my friend for sharing with me. i do so appreciate your kind remarks. stop back anytime.
VisionaryImagist
Nikolay; It is really good to see you here as well. I look forward to sharing in the new year with you and your art.
VisionaryImagist
Joyce: I really appreciate your valued comments. I look forward to sharing art and letters with you in the upcoming year. stop back anytime.
VisionaryImagist
Samantha: What a wonderful comment. thank you deeply. i do enjoy allowing my mind to travel to where it takes me. and then to paint what i saw revealed. thanks again my friend.
Tracey Mac
I stopped by because I love planes and love this painting. Then I read your wonderful story with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. A wonderful moving story about your dad and now I love the painting so much more.
I lost my dad in ‘99. He served in the RAAF for 25 years. I found out after he passed that he also had many silent stories, but from Vietnam, to which I was totally unaware of. To this day I can’t believe it wasn’t talked about. I still know very little but my mums gone too and I can’t even ask her what happened. My eldest brother remembers a few stories told to him at a very young age so that’s all we have now. I miss Dad and am so sorry for all the conversations we never had, due to his stroke when he was only 52.
Thanks for sharing such heartfelt words and memories. :-)
jamiewinter
this is incredible your so talented it is unbelivable.
VisionaryImagist
jamie: so are you. love your artwork as well. thanks
Joe Valcourt/M...
fantastic work Joey.
VisionaryImagist
Joe; thanks again for taking the time to share with me.
FireRabbit
A beautiful story and a great image to go with it!
VisionaryImagist
Rabbit; thanks for stopping by and commenting on my oil painting. stop back anytime.
TrEaSuReDiMaGeS
Awesome!!!! :-) ..... What a Beautiful story!! Thank you for sharing it with us!!
CATNIPMEOW
YES Thank you ! It is beautiful, unique and very touching-
My father was in the air force and would love this….....
ISMAIL ALAOUI ...
please add you wonderfull work to this new and unique group ^^
vehicles-hand-drawn-or-painted
Edward Denyer
Found this Image whilst search through RB sites and thought it very appropriate for today being Remembrance Sunday 2009. Excellent drawing and dialogue Joey. Ted, Host of Warbirds Group