Apr 25, 2022
The Art of the Post: Pictures from Your Childhood
The Art of the Post: Pictures from Your Childhood Did you read the classic Golden Books, such as The Color Kittens or The Fuzzy Duckling? Did you look at Tony the Tiger on a box of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes? Then you’ll love the new art book about the Provensens, an amazing pair of illustrators. By David Aptoff "By 1951 they were able to move away from New York City to a farm they named Maple Hill Farm, not far from the Hudson River. The farm became the center of their creativity for the rest of their lives. Their daughter Karen recalled growing up on the farm with horses, sheep, chickens, and geese. 'For my parents, living and working at the farm was ideal. The studio was set up perfectly with both of their drawing boards back to back near the window overlooking the green fields and the front pond and the driveway lined with maple trees. My mother planted yellow daffodils on the far side of the pond which bloomed every spring.'"
The Art of the Post: Pictures from Your Childhood
The Art of the Post: Pictures from Your Childhood Did you read the classic Golden Books, such as The Color Kittens or The Fuzzy Duckling? Did you look at Tony the Tiger on a box of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes? Then you’ll love the new art book about the Provensens, an amazing pair of illustrators. By David Aptoff "By 1951 they were able to move away from New York City to a farm they named Maple Hill Farm, not far from the Hudson River. The farm became the center of their creativity for the rest of their lives. Their daughter Karen recalled growing up on the farm with horses, sheep, chickens, and geese. 'For my parents, living and working at the farm was ideal. The studio was set up perfectly with both of their drawing boards back to back near the window overlooking the green fields and the front pond and the driveway lined with maple trees. My mother planted yellow daffodils on the far side of the pond which bloomed every spring.'"
Apr 25, 2022
Posted Date
Nov 03, 2023
Historical Record Date
Apr 25, 2022
Source Name
The Saturday Evening Post
Apr 05, 2022
Apr 05, 2022
Art Appreciation: Karen Provensen Mitchell Discusses the Legacy of The Provensens and a New Monograph of Their Lives and Work
Art Appreciation: Karen Provensen Mitchell Discusses the Legacy of The Provensens and a New Monograph of Their Lives and Work April 5, 2022 Betsy Bird "We live on a farm ninety miles north of New York City. Our own landscape and our (travel) experiences have inspired and influenced much of our work.” BB: There’s a longstanding tradition amongst children’s book creators of buying old farms and converting them into studios (heck, Sophie Blackall’s doing it herself right now with Milkwood Farm). Your parents created Maple Hill Farm. Could you tell us why they chose the location they did and what they did with it? KPM: My parents were both raised in cities and lived together in both Washington DC and New York City. I think they both wanted to try the rural life style for a change. They drew a circle around NYC of a two hour driving distance (to stay reasonable close to their publishers in NYC) and started looking at farms in NY, CT, and NJ. They fell in love with and bought the abandoned Maple Hill Farm in 1951, ninety miles north of NYC. It took several years to rebuild the foundation of the barn in order to turn it into their studio and many more to clear the overgrown fields, fix up the house and barn, create a big garden, etc. The farm became their beloved lifelong hobby. BB: In THE ART OF ALICE AND MARTIN PROVENSEN you mention at the beginning that you were adopted when you were nine months old by your parents. What was the experience of growing up in a dual picture book creators’ home like? KPM: As a young child, I grew up in a house built in 1830 on a beautiful farm with two parents who worked as illustrators in the studio in the barn. I was exposed to magnificent artwork and beautiful visual aesthetics on a daily basis as well as being exposed to the “artistic life style” and “artistic priorities” such as our trips to museums in places such as New York City, California, Europe, east coast, Mexico etc. As a child, I was offered many artistic opportunities (including coloring, painting, designs, sculpture etc.) But in later elementary school, I realized that I was more talented in music than art …..plus I honestly thought that two artists in a family of three was enough….especially since they were so extremely talented! I went on to learn to play flute, piano and guitar and have a career as a music therapist/music teacher. Looking back, I definitely reaped the benefits of my “artistic” childhood in many, many ways, even though I did not become an artist. For many reasons, I was very lucky to have been adopted by them.
Art Appreciation: Karen Provensen Mitchell Discusses the Legacy of The Provensens and a New Monograph of Their Lives and Work
Art Appreciation: Karen Provensen Mitchell Discusses the Legacy of The Provensens and a New Monograph of Their Lives and Work April 5, 2022 Betsy Bird "We live on a farm ninety miles north of New York City. Our own landscape and our (travel) experiences have inspired and influenced much of our work.” BB: There’s a longstanding tradition amongst children’s book creators of buying old farms and converting them into studios (heck, Sophie Blackall’s doing it herself right now with Milkwood Farm). Your parents created Maple Hill Farm. Could you tell us why they chose the location they did and what they did with it? KPM: My parents were both raised in cities and lived together in both Washington DC and New York City. I think they both wanted to try the rural life style for a change. They drew a circle around NYC of a two hour driving distance (to stay reasonable close to their publishers in NYC) and started looking at farms in NY, CT, and NJ. They fell in love with and bought the abandoned Maple Hill Farm in 1951, ninety miles north of NYC. It took several years to rebuild the foundation of the barn in order to turn it into their studio and many more to clear the overgrown fields, fix up the house and barn, create a big garden, etc. The farm became their beloved lifelong hobby. BB: In THE ART OF ALICE AND MARTIN PROVENSEN you mention at the beginning that you were adopted when you were nine months old by your parents. What was the experience of growing up in a dual picture book creators’ home like? KPM: As a young child, I grew up in a house built in 1830 on a beautiful farm with two parents who worked as illustrators in the studio in the barn. I was exposed to magnificent artwork and beautiful visual aesthetics on a daily basis as well as being exposed to the “artistic life style” and “artistic priorities” such as our trips to museums in places such as New York City, California, Europe, east coast, Mexico etc. As a child, I was offered many artistic opportunities (including coloring, painting, designs, sculpture etc.) But in later elementary school, I realized that I was more talented in music than art …..plus I honestly thought that two artists in a family of three was enough….especially since they were so extremely talented! I went on to learn to play flute, piano and guitar and have a career as a music therapist/music teacher. Looking back, I definitely reaped the benefits of my “artistic” childhood in many, many ways, even though I did not become an artist. For many reasons, I was very lucky to have been adopted by them.
Posted Date
Nov 03, 2023
Historical Record Date
Apr 05, 2022
Source Name
SLJ School Library Journal
Aug 01, 1987
Building-Structure Inventory Form
The following shows the Building-Structure Inventory Form submitted to the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation by the Dutchess County Historical Society for the home at "Walnut Drive (east and west sides) at 1/2 mile south of Meadowbrook Lane" in 1987. The PDF is available for download via the link below.
Building-Structure Inventory Form
The following shows the Building-Structure Inventory Form submitted to the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation by the Dutchess County Historical Society for the home at "Walnut Drive (east and west sides) at 1/2 mile south of Meadowbrook Lane" in 1987. The PDF is available for download via the link below.
Aug 01, 1987
Posted Date
Nov 03, 2023
Historical Record Date
Aug 01, 1987
Source Name
NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historical Preservation
