“Seas of Imagination”
The artist, Julia Ellen Snyder Day (1895-1994), is my maternal grandmother. This watercolor seascape painting by her depicts a scene typically found on the Eastern Seaboard in the early 20th century. I estimate that she completed this painting circa 1913, when she was 18 years old. As a matter of reference, this was before the First World War. Note her maiden name initials “J.S.” in the lower left corner.
She was born in Rockwood, Pennsylvania, the only child of my great grandparents Jacob and Ellen Snyder. She showed early talent in art, but chose to pursue music as a young college student; she was a classical pianist. Eventually she married and settled in Baltimore, where my mother was born some years later.
This painting was untitled when it was given to me by her in the 1980’s. I have named it “Seas of Imagination”, as it depicts rolling waves that I never get tired of watching as a sailboat in the distance sails toward an unknown destination – possibly Paradise. It is one of eight paintings, in watercolor and oils, that were passed down to me by her.
This special one time showing of this art piece of my grandmother’s will be on display for a limited time at the beginning of my photography exhibit at the Fairview library, starting August 2, 2024. Please come see it!