Grandma Moses (Anna Roberts)

Posted October 4, 2007, 11:38 pm
Credit 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."
  

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