Now I love them even more!

I have posted before about how much I love vintage "Ideals" magazines.  I discovered some old copies years ago at a thrift store, and loved them.  As my piles grew, I realized I have another collection.  But this is not a collection of something that merely sits on a shelf, I read them!

If you are not familiar with "Ideals," they are magazines that were published for years that feature content that is nostalgic, sentimental and historic, in the form of poetry, short biographies, inspirational quotes, recipes, book excerpts and beautiful, beautiful photographs.  The magazine celebrated values that were a throwback to the turn of the century (like family, God and virtuousness), so the content was "vintage" when they were published fifty years ago.  

Anyway, most of them were holiday-themed, so I always pull them out seasonally.  Here's what I was reading at Thanksgiving (for $1.50 from a thrift store):

As I was reading this, one illustration in particular caught my eye:

What was it about the illustration that I noticed?  Well, the name of the illustrator in the bottom right corner looked very familiar.  "PAT THOMPSON" (in all caps) it read.

Pat Thompson?  I know someone with that name!  And she's a painter, too!

Years ago I was walking my dog through my neighborhood when I had a conversation with a neighbor who had started oil painting.  He took painting classes in the next town, and told me the studio was always looking for new models to paint.  He knew I did a lot of gig work, and suggested I contact the studio.

I did, and this led to years of my sitting as a portrait model for different classes.  I really enjoyed it, and got to know many of the students, as well as one of the owners, Pat Thompson.

Could this be the same Pat Thompson?

Well, I knew "Ideals" had been published in Nashville (where I live), and the particular issue I was reading had been published in the 1990s.  Then I remembered that a few years ago, Pat gifted me one of the portraits she had done of me in a three-week session.

I was at the studio to sit (yet again), when she pulled out the portrait she'd done.  She had had it framed to give me as a gift, which was so thoughtful.

I loved it.  It was (and is) a great memory of all my years of portrait modeling.

So I jumped up and went to check out the signature on the painting.

There it was!  The same signature, in all capital letters.

My portrait sitting wrapped up around the time Covid entered the world, so I haven't been to the studio in a few years.  I sent Pat an email.  "Just curious," I wrote, "did you ever do any illustrations for Ideals magazine?"

"Wow, thanks Phoebe!" she responded.  She was a bit surprised to be asked that twenty-five years later!

She also informed me that she is a "different artist now" which is "the point of the art journey." 🙂

She added that it was a "fun experience" that taught her a lot about illustrating, and that her niece was the model for this particular picture.

Who knew?

One of my favorite people in one of my favorite magazines.  Now I have something fun to pay attention to as I keep reading.

I wonder how many other contributors would be surprised to know they're still being read and enjoyed, decades after they were published?  (Especially in a magazine.)

It's the delightful little twists and surprises in life that make it fun, don't you think?