Grace Notes

 Grace, Shirley Temple and Bruce's early art.

In 1934, Grace's idol of the day was Shirley Temple. Grace and Shirley were the same age, just a month apart. Through my genealogy research, I discovered that they were also distant cousins. In May of 1934, I imagine Grace got to go to the movies for her 5th birthday. She might have seen Shirley Temple's breakthrough film, Stand Up and Cheer! Which was released in May of 1934, check it out here, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Temple. 

Grace also idolized Bruce. He must have been quite touched by that. Of course, he was continually practicing his drawing and tutoring all his sisters. Perhaps the sketch of Shirley temple was a birthday gift for Grace.

Shirley Temple "To Grace" by Bruce F. Jepsen, 1934

So this is one of my favorites, Bruce's 1934 sketch of my mother, Grace while she was sleeping.

Grace Asleep, by Bruce F. Jepsen, 1934

Grace 1935

By the time Bruce graduated from Central High School in 1937, he had won art awards and was being hired by various local business's in downtown Omaha to do signage and newspaper ads, as well as murals. See previous post on mural painting and the early Omaha Bee Newspaper.  Bruce also did a few self-portraits, which I will share later. Happy Friday!

Bruce Fleming Jepsen, Central High School, 1937

 

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