While I was visiting my grandparents this week, I showed them some of my symmetrical patterns, and they started making art requests. These are the results, and the stories that go with them:
Grandpa asked me to draw a deer, which I attempted here - the key word being "attempted", given the lack of references in their internet-free house and the fact that I was doodling quickly with a touchpad. The result is anatomically terrible, but still oddly pretty. It's red because that's the color Grandma requested.
This picture started with Grandpa asking what I'd draw if I was making the decal for a vehicle's door, and then it snowballed from there. It began with lightning on a purple gradient, and then my grandparents asked for mountains, clouds, and a cabin with the lights on.
Grandpa also implied, but did not confirm, that he wanted me to strike the cabin with lightning.
Grandpa also implied, but did not confirm, that he wanted me to strike the cabin with lightning.
The third picture is Grandma's second-ever attempt at digital art. The touchpad gave her some trouble - she's never owned a TV, computer, or smartphone of any kind - but I encouraged her to keep trying and showed her three different ways to make the touchpad draw, then I took a break to go to the washroom.
While I was in there, the world outside the washroom turned into an audio comedy routine of delight, confusion and alarm. "Oh, it's doing it! Eeee! Oh, no, what did it do? Honey, where did it go? What did you do? Do that thing you did again."
By the time I left the bathroom, my grandparents had managed to accidentally zoom in to 9,000% magnification, they'd inadvertently opened a program I didn't even remember having on my computer, and Grandma had signed her name.
I am proud of her for continuing to try after her confusing and discouraging initial attempts to use the touchpad. Next time I visit, I'll try to remember to bring the mouse - maybe that will be easier for her.
Who knows - if I get her into digital art, she and Grandpa might even disprove my theory that they were going to go to their graves without ever owning a screen-bearing machine more complex than a phone with call display. :P It's never too late!
While I was in there, the world outside the washroom turned into an audio comedy routine of delight, confusion and alarm. "Oh, it's doing it! Eeee! Oh, no, what did it do? Honey, where did it go? What did you do? Do that thing you did again."
By the time I left the bathroom, my grandparents had managed to accidentally zoom in to 9,000% magnification, they'd inadvertently opened a program I didn't even remember having on my computer, and Grandma had signed her name.
I am proud of her for continuing to try after her confusing and discouraging initial attempts to use the touchpad. Next time I visit, I'll try to remember to bring the mouse - maybe that will be easier for her.
Who knows - if I get her into digital art, she and Grandpa might even disprove my theory that they were going to go to their graves without ever owning a screen-bearing machine more complex than a phone with call display. :P It's never too late!
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