Maude Lewis - Folk Artist - 1901 -1970
I don't know a lot about Maude Lewis, only some that I've read, and I did see the movie depicting her life which was one of struggle, of pain, of poverty but also one of love, creativity, strength, and beauty.
I've read that the most recent sale of one of her paintings sold for $350,000.00, yet Maude never saw any wealth as a result of all her artistic work. Most of her paintings she sold at the roadside of her humble home for $5.00. I've read that the most she ever received for one of her paintings was $10.00.
Life is like that sometimes.
She suffered from childhood rheumatoid arthritis and also curvature of the spine. The arthritis in her hands would have made her painting a challenge, one that I can resonate with since I also have rheumatoid arthritis in my hands. Sometimes, I've discovered, the pain in my hands is somehow alleviated when I am painting. Not sure if it is the physical absence of pain or the pure pleasure of dismissing the pain, choosing instead the joy of the colours on the canvas.
I will never know, but I wonder if this was an experience shared by Maude.
The paintings of Maude Lewis are simple, colourful, and it is obvious to me that they come from the heart. If the movie of Maude's life is to be accepted as truthful, then I love her response when the younger woman asked, "Will you teach me how to paint?" I'm sure I am not verbatim, but Maude's response was something like, "Painting can't be taught. If you want to paint, you just paint, I guess."
Perhaps I love her response because, other than one oil painting course with Brian Williams, and a little on-line learning, I have also never been taught. I just love to paint, so I do.
I'm much the same with my creative writing. Writers write. I love to write, so I do.
I am inspired by Maude Lewis; by her passion, her perseverance, and her ability to create beauty often unseen in the simple, ordinary things of life.
I'm sorry that her work was not really recognized until after her passing. Her life in Nova Scotia was one of not only physical pain, but also one of financial hardship. Today, others are making lots of money on her work, but Maude Lewis lived and died in poverty.
I love folk art. When I first started painting my pictures quite late in life, I didn't know that I was a folk artist. I was simply painting what I wanted to paint to the best of my ability.
It was friends who commented to me that I was creating folk art. Friends began telling me that my work reminded them of Maude Lewis.
I painted only for the joy of painting. I had to google to learn the definition of folk artist. Now I happily call myself a folk artist. I am as prolific a painter as I have been a writer.
Maude Lewis was only 69 years old when she died. I've been blessed to live more senior years than she did.
I'm grateful to have sold some paintings. A few I have given away to friends who liked them. I've only recently found the joy of painting on a large canvas. So far, I have painted three large 30 x 40" paintings. I am overjoyed that two of the three quickly sold.
When I first began painting just a few years ago, I felt embarrassed by the simplicity of my work. I am my own harshest critic. But thanks to Maude Lewis, I have been inspired and I feel grateful for this gift of playing with colours.
My books and my paintings are all for sale.
Please message me on Facebook if one catches your eye.
