Grandma Moses (Anna Roberts)

Posted October 4, 2007, 11:38 pm by Growing Bolder

Grandma Moses
Born: Sept. 7, 1860
Died: Dec. 13, 1961

One of the most famous American folk artists of all-time, Anna Roberts spent most of her life as a farmer's wife before teaching herself to paint when she was in her mid-70s when she had to give up embroidery because her hands became stiff with arthritis.

After the Age of Seventy

At age 80 (1940), Grandma Moses staged her first solo show.
At age 88 (1948), President Harry S. Truman presented her with the Women's National Press Club Award for Outstanding Accomplishments in Art.
At age 94 (1954), legendary news reporter Edward R. Murrow invited her on his TV show, See It Now. Viewers watched on TV as Grandma painted a picture from her house.
At age 100 (1960), she illustrated an edition of "The Night Before Christmas" by Clement Moore and the book was published after her death.

Quotes:

"I look back on my life a good day's work, it was done and I am satisfied with it."
"A primitive artist is an amateur whose work sells."
"Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be. "
"Painting's not important. The important thing is keeping busy."