My father, Bud Pickering

Arthur “Bud” was a very talented young boy and honed his musical and artistic talents throughout his life. He loved to draw as a kid and one of his favorite mediums was pen and ink – perhaps that was because it was the only art material he could get his hands on at the time! He drew lots of bookplates for his older sister Ruth who was an avid reader. Two of those plates exist today along with a small, brightly colored vase of flowers in enamel on a piece of cork that he painted when he was about 12 years old.

And, as for his musical talent – well, by the time he was my father he had taught himself just about every piece of classical music written. Since his parents wouldn’t pay for piano lessons for him, Bud decided to hang around when his sister Ruth had her lessons so he could learn indirectly. He was truly a gifted pianist and composer. I remember him teaching me how to change the key of some difficult music so I could play it easier. I just thought it was magic how he could do that! There’s no doubt that he influenced me greatly with his art and music talents

One of the many joys of growing up with Bud as a father was how he loved to draw for us. His never-ending supply of imagination and playful humor came through in his many famous caricature drawings of his three girls. He gave us all nicknames and never tired of drawing funny cartoons of us – or for us. I was the oldest (and skinniest) so my name was “String Bean”. When Pam and Susan, my sisters, add their stories in the future they may even divulge their nicknames! Unfortunately, our brother Jeff was born only a year before our father died. But even though Jeff never knew his dad, he inherited his terrific artistic talent – just as all of his daughters and most of his grandchildren have!