Xtraordinary Grandma

At age 76, many people are starting to slow down and start relaxing in the later, older years of life. This grandma started something new, something that would bring her national acclaim and a lasting legacy. Her new pastime would lead to her being featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1953, and Life magazine on September 19, 1960 honoring her 100^th birthday. A US postage stamp was created in her honor in 1969.

Anna Mary Robertson Moses, born September 7, 1860 is more commonly known as her painter name, Grandma Moses. Known for her American folk art style, her work has been featured on greeting cards and other merchandise, in addition to the actual paintings.

Grandma Moses began painting late in life, at the age of 76 when her arthritis made her give up her current creative outlet, embroidery. She was a successful painter for more than 25 years and produced over 1,500 works. Initially she charged $3 to $5 per painting. As her popularity increased, her pieces sold for $8,000 to $10,000. In 2006, over forty years after her death, one painting, The Sugaring Off, sold for $1.2 million.

I doubt during her lifetime she could even imagine how popular her works would become or the staggering amounts of money some would sell for so many years after her death. She was simply a woman who loved life and lived it to her fullest, even if it meant taking up a new pastime in her 70’s.