Myrle Medeiros

as many of you know, i love to thrift. i especially love a good junk store, where i leave feeling the need to wash my hands. my favorite shop is located minutes from my mother's house, and i can spend hours in there, though my hands get covered with grime from the experience.

it's almost always worth it, as i often find beautiful things, left unwanted or unappreciated by their previous owners. one such find was the artwork of Myrle Medeiros, and i feel so lucky to have picked them up accidentally.

i was looking for picture frames to use as trays for Ethan's second birthday party, and i found a matching set of rough, wooden frames, priced at $3 a piece. both had family documents in them; one was a certificate for the World's Greatest Grandfather, dated in the 70s.

"Sugar Bon" and "Huck Finn"

when I took out the glass and certificates (to clean the frames), these prints appeared, and i was instantly enamored. with their bright doe eyes and vibrant colors, i couldn't help but show off the amazing treasure i had unearthed. 

as much as i had planned to research the artist, and share them here, i never got around to it, but yesterday, i was reading Thompson Family Life, and found the image below.

Medeiros's Sugar Bon, with the pink ribbon, via Danielle

do you see it? the little girl with the kitten and their matching ribbons? i instantly recognized the style, and asked Danielle if she knew who the artist was. she responded quickly, sharing this link, where a fan has meticulously collected information about the artist and painting style.

i don't know that there is a technical term for the style, but the consensus seems to say "Big-Eyed Waif," and typically includes artwork that features children with large eyes. this trend was popular in the sixties and seventies, and included many artists, including Florence Kroger, and Margaret Keane, who sold the images under her husband's name.

i i was fascinated to find more of Medeiros's work, as well as information on the painting trend, and i'm so thankful that Danielle was able to help. i love my paintings, not because they are popular or well-known, but because of the saturated hues and beautiful faces.

hopefully, i'll be able to purchase a few more prints and start a small collection soon. 

so, what do you think of my paintings?

-karey