It’s hit or miss how Father’s Day hits me. Dad died back in 2011, so it’s been a minute. His loss isn’t as raw as it once was. A lot happens in nine years, after all.
But this Father’s Day I decided to spend some time reflecting via a mixed media journal spread.
Mixed Media Journaling is the third class I’ve taken through Sketchbook Skool, and it’s definitely my favorite. The sky is really the limit.
Today I completed my most personal journal entry to date. Tears were shed. I printed some pictures of my dad when he was young, as well as some pictures of him, me, and my brother from when we were young on copy paper. I used blue, because it was Dad’s favorite color. I really like incorporating words into my mixed media pieces. And since Dad died so young (he was 53), I find myself wondering about all of the conversations we never had.
And in reminiscing, I can’t forget that my dad was a volatile man. As a smaller child we got spankings, which were scary. I don’t remember him hitting us after I reached middle school, but his anger could be explosive and scary nonetheless…
But even with those hard times he’s the one who taught me to throw a softball and football. I get my love of music from him, and there’s a subtle layer in the piece to reflect that. He let me help him fix the car sometimes, when he needed small hands. Because of him I could change my own oil. (But it’s a pain in the ass, so I don’t.)
Through his work at the factory, he showed me what true union solidarity and pride looks like. The union had a yearly Santa Claus for us, and in the spring a cookout with THE BEST rotisserie chicken to date. Even as a kid we got to have a quarter chicken. Those events were like hanging out with family. One of his union siblings and friends witnessed the signing of Dad’s will.
The bad stuff comes up with looking back, but there’s a lot to be glad about too.
One thing that occurred to me while creating this is that I didn’t make something similar for Mom for Mother’s Day. I wasn’t taking this art class then, so there’s that… But it also reminded me that Mom is still here. And there’s a lot I wonder about with her too. Probably I shouldn’t wait around to find out, and maybe I shouldn’t take that relationship for granted quite so much…
So that’s a work in progress.
To all the dad’s in all their different forms, and to all the people missing their dads today: Sending you love.