This post is dedicated to the memory of my father, Dr. John Y Gibson. In 2013 to celebrate his 80th birthday, we created a book together. Illuminate features ten of his Christmas card drawings alongside my poems. Today would be his 89th birthday. He passed away on April 22, 2022.
Patricia Franz offered to teach some of us bloggers how to use Canva to make videos. I forgot all about the Zoom meeting on Monday, but she graciously recorded it and sent me a link. I decided to make a video with some of my father’s drawings and a poem I wrote for him in 2008. It’s my first attempt, but Canva and Patricia’s guidance made it fairly easy to do. Thanks, Patricia.
Light comes out of darkness. As an artist, I want to tell you that in my ink drawings it is the darkest dark that reveals the brightest light. So it seems also in life.
John Y. Gibson
My Father’s Drawing
Dots of ink and graphite rise in tension with paper
to form a likeness of mother and child.
The wild contrast of darks to light
plays in harmony creating a vision of love.In the meantime, I grew up,
became a mother with children
living away from my father.
His words came to me in thank you notes
and birthday cards, an occasional phone call.Yet everyday, I look at his drawing–
Margaret Simon, Illuminate
the dots of pointillism reach out from the wall
and grant me an audience
with his grateful praise.
Reflections on the Teche 
What a beautiful tribute to your father and his art. You carry his legacy in your heart and in your own art, and love shines through it all.
Your closing lines speak so closely to light that your father created with his darkest inks:
“the dots of pointillism reach out from the wall
and grant me an audience
with his grateful praise.”
Thanks for this kindred creation between you and your father Margaret, and lovely, moving canva piece too!
Your post is beautiful, Margaret. Your love for your father shines through and I loved hearing your voice recite the words. Thank you for this special gift this morning.
Loved your video, Margaret–such a beautiful tribute and remembrance of your father.
Margaret, this is exquisite—thank you so much for sharing. I was so deeply moved that I find it hard to also want to say how much I learned about what I’d like to do in my own videos…So beautiful.
Margaret, I rarely click on videos, but I had to watch this. It is just so wonderful and weighty and filled with love. Thank you for sharing it. On a side note, I hired my daughter to do book trailers for my 3 spring books, and she used Canva. I didn’t even know you could do that! I’m so impressed with your first attempt. Love and hugs to you. I know you miss your father so much.
Thanks. I’m the same way. I’m often reading and don’t want the sound. But I’m hooked on Canva videos. My students made them today. Easiest platform I’ve ever used.
What a lovely piece and the video with your own voice reading it made it even more lovely.
Margaret, your poem reads like an ode to your father. Beautifully shaped and embued with love. Your multi-media reading of the poem captures the tenderness in which these words come wrapped. Stunning.
Oh, that is just lovely. I adore your father’s illustrations, and your music choice seems just right alongside your words. “grant me an audience with his graceful? grateful? praise” (either is nice!) is a tribute to the endurance of our artworks.
This is such a beautiful collaboration, Margaret. You gifted me with this book several years ago. It is a treasure.
Margaret! This is a beautiful tribute to your father! Such love and reverence in your words, your voice, and the video. I’m so happy you found the recording helpful.
I love the collaboration of father and daughter…both parents and grandparents. There is wisdom and love in this. I would love to learn more about Canva. I’m intimidated by it. I’ll check in with Patricia to see if I can learn from the video. Beautiful poem, Margaret. I traveled to celebrate my Dad’s 80th this weekend. It is a beautiful memory for me now.
Beautiful.