Sunday, December 21, 2008

Jim Lewicki's Christmas/Winter Solstice


In the 1990's we lived in a wonderful house on Long Island that had been purpose built by the artist and illustrator Jim Lewicki and his wife Lillian. 
Robert worked in the huge groundfloor studio where, when the wind was  exactly right, echoes of Jim's pipe smoke permeated the air. 
We have stayed friends with Lil --who is now in her nineties -- and their daughter Lisa Lewicki Hermanson.

For me, the best things of all were the two streams in the garden which backed onto the woods. So many hours spent tramping through them with the dog in all seasons.

Recently Lisa and her husband John have been looking through the archives and restoring some of her dad's images many of which were produced in the 1940's, 50's and 60's by the American Artists Group.

Here St. Nicholas arrives at New Amsterdam amidst much 16th century merriment.

Very much of its period, this last image reminds me of my youth.
For more information about the artist and the cards' availability contact Lisa by e-mail.
Lisa_hermanson@verizon.net

23 comments:

  1. These are charming. Nice that they're being restored.

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  2. Wow, those are really great images! I like the one with St Nick at Plimouth Plantation most of all :)

    Thanks for dropping by my blog. Bunnies definitely rule, lol!! Have a wonderful Christmas and a lovely New Year!

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  3. Lovely pictures. Such a sweet feel to them.

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  4. Beautiful artwork. And how great is it that his daughter and her husband are taking the time to restore his artwork. That is love and respect.

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  5. Sentimental sweet christmas images...always stir some spirit that needs stirring!
    I enjoy your blog so much- you have a wonderful photographers eye and a personal connection with what usually seems a cold remote city. I love taking walks with you! Thank you.

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  6. I really like these paintings. I think I 'remember' them. I'm sure I've seen them through the years.

    Your photos of snowy New York would make a wonderful 'story book' centered around Trinity Church...hint, hint....

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  7. What beautiful images elizabeth. Thanks for leaving a comment on fox hunting. What a different life you lead now to the one you describe seeing the fox hunting in the UK.

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  8. There is something very Christmas Comforting about these photos. It is so timeless. Thank you for sharing them with everyone:)

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  9. rich history and beautiful illustrations - loved the New Amsterdam piece

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  10. These are adorable illustrations and it's wonderful that they are being restored.

    Hope you are managing to keep warm in all your snow Elizabeth. Brrrr.

    Just in case I don't 'bump' into you in blogland before Christmas, I would like to now wish you and your family a very happy Christmas :)
    ♥ Tracy xo

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  11. What lovely images. It gets me in the holiday spirit.

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  12. Very pretty paintings. They should be restored. There is such a love for vintage today. And the worse the economy gets...the more we want to embrace the past...when life was simple.

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  13. Lovely cards!! A labor of love@
    And that's a beautiful photo. Is that your old backyard Elizabeth? Your happy garden?

    Hope you are keeping warm and enjoying the city today!

    xox
    Constance

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  14. Thanks for stopping in to visit me, Elizabeth. This is my first visit to your blog. By the way, I love the image of the woods!

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  15. lovely post elizabeth. i'm always so happy to hear when a family works to restore, protect, and promote the work of an artist who's passed on.

    have a wonderful holiday, thanks for stopping by my 'holiday party'

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  16. These are really lovely Elizabeth.
    I also like the snow scenes in NY. The snow coming down looks so real against the snow pics.

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  17. What lovely images! I also love your pictures of New York and the snow storm!
    Thank you for your nice visit to my blog! I also wish you a merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year! D'Ora is doing fine and is looking forward to the first snowfall... :)

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  18. I enjoyed these! Thanks for posting them, Elizabeth.

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  19. My thanks for the fantastic comments concerning my father's work. We are only getting started in this process,
    so all feedback and encouragement is greatly appreciated. We hope to have a website up in a month or so.

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  20. Thanks for acknowledging my grandfather's work. They are truly beautiful illustrations--each captures a separate truth about Christmas.

    And it was also neat for me to be invited to remember the house and yard that were the place of some of my earliest and most vivid memories.

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  21. Hello Elizabeth..these are very beautiful images and thanks for sharing.

    Here's wishing you a Merry, Joyful and Blessed Christmas. The kids are sitting by my mom's Christmas tree everyday counting the presents...well, me too :)

    Big hugs and much love, M

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  22. I like it when semi-forgotten illustrations are re-visited and made available to view again. So much just disappears through time. Thanks for sharing.

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I look forward to hearing from you!