Is it in my DNA? 🧬
Erin Daniels
Nature or Nurture?
While my creativity has been encouraged since early childhood, I’ve long suspected that being an artist is in my DNA. Creating has always come easily to me and the ability to observe something and recreate it on paper is as natural to me as breathing. People ask me all the time. “how did you do that?” and I really don’t have an earth shattering answer - I just “do it”!
For my upcoming exhibit at Hood College, the theme of family ties and legacy took center stage. See “Garden of the Soul - The Seed” for the reasons why, and I’ve taken a deep dive into the family tree, exploring my inheritance of artistic ability.
I have written previously about my Nana, Margaret, who has been my biggest artistic inspiration (as well as the inspiration for the name of my business - see “What’s In a Name” ) but I have many more creatives in my family tree. Following is just a snippet of the talent that graces my tree - there are many more folks (living and dead) that carry the “artist DNA”. I love the idea that little bits of each one of these ancestors has come together to make me the unique artist I am today. I hope you enjoy!
(I have omitted surnames to protect the privacy of living relatives)
Thomas Patton
Born in Greenscastle, Ireland (a suburb of Belfast) around 1840, Thomas emigrated to Philadelphia in 1869. In the 1880 & 1890 census I found Thomas’ profession listed as “Artist”. (This discovery sparked my interest in exploring my artistic legacy through genealogy.) In the 1920 census he is listed as an “Artist” with an added notation of “Landscapes”. I have yet to find any evidence of Thomas’ work (or even a picture of him) but it is possible that he did commercial scenery work for the theater. The search continues as I use DNA and old fashioned research to hunt down the elusive artist, Thomas!
Jennie Elizabeth (niece of Thomas)
My great-grandmother who is listed as a “hat trimmer” in the 1900 Philadelphia census.
The Edwardian fashion era (1901-1910) is often remembered by large over-sized hats stacked with plumes of feathers, bows, flowers, birds, lace, and tulle. What fun it must have been to create these works of art!
Nelson Edmund (husband of Jennie)
An original pastel painting by “Nels” that hangs in my home. Though he was an insurance salesman by profession his artistic talent is evident in this fashionable portrait from 1905.
Margaret Dorothea (daughter of Jennie & Nelson)
One of a series of Illustrations done by “Peg” during her time as a Fashion Illustration student at Moore College of Art in Philadelphia. (also my alma mater)
Thanks for reading and as always please keep in touch xo Erin
margaretjamesdesign@gmail.com ~ 609-226-7708