Myrea Pettit

I was never fortunate enough to learn languages, Art was my forte, but I so want to be able to speak a few words and be courteous when visiting such kind people as Ann Mari in her home, her hospitality and kindness to me is amazing, what a wonderful person she is and with my friend Per Arne I know we have made an exciting discovery and being able to enlighten her life with her paintings is a real blessing that is bringing her so much joy and light, so I tried to speak a few words of Swedish but the applause of my teachers made it all worthwhile!

It would be hard to explain the emotion and the thrill I experienced to actually sit down with the artist who influenced my childhood imaginations with their drawings from books published in what to me was a bye gone age. I had to pinch myself to believe this fairy tale was really happening. To actually be there in Ann Maris studio sitting with her and being given the most amazing lessons in watercoloring techniques. These were moments treasured and I am fortunate that small videos were made for me to recall as I want and to share my feelings with others artists and friends.

Wonderful to discuss with Ann Mari all her works which she was so excited to show Per Arne and myself. I could feel her enthusiasm to reveal all her work that had for many years now simply been shut away. She so enjoyed this re discovery, and to see us using her nostalgic images in new books along with other contemporary artists.

Down by her lakeside cabin where she painted for many years and where Ann Mari saw all her fairy characters this has to be my inspirational picture too. I now have this framed in my home a lasting memory of a grand and talented lady, a special artist, a friend and mentor

The wonderful Per Arne helped me to discover Ann Mari Sjogren living quietly in Helsingborg Sweden in 2002. Considering her first book which was such a great success round the world ‘A Day in fairyland ‘was published in 1947 we really thought that sadly Ann Mari had passed on , but it was observation of Per Arne and some fine detective work that uncovered one of the most successful artists and illustrators of children’s books living quietly as a widow of some twenty years . I grew up on Ann Maris book, so you can imagine the thrill not only to go and meet her but she was to take me under her wing and help me with my own art. We grew very close together writing letters to each other and I paid three visits to Sweden to be with her, all this possible with Per Arne and his lovely family. Though Ann Mari finally passed away last year at the grand age of 92, it was not before we had exchanged our love for each other, I miss her kindness but her legacy and what she has taught me will live with me forever and will always be my very own fairytale of meeting and sharing time with the illustrator who influenced my childhood.

Climate Kid©Myrea Pettit

Painted for ‘Do the green thing’

My picture shows the unfortunate catastrophe of constant rain , floods and storms over what was London. Humankind were adapting to the years of change and were beginning to look and adapt like water fowl to these horrific conditions bought about by mankinds disregard for the environment many years before and not heeding the warning signs .

Well I might not have been at Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain to watch the sunrise, but my day was just as exciting when the postman delivered a square boxed parcel from the USA. What a unexpected gift awaited me, for there in all its colorful splendor was Daniel Merriam’s latest beautiful art book ‘Taking Reality by Surprise’  with a special signing to me.  Well you sure did!

I love Daniels creativity he calls his work ‘Fantastical Art’ and indeed it is. This is a volume to treasure, thank you so much Daniel and Yulia your lovely wife to whom you dedicated your book.  You both made my Midsummers day very special!

To Myrea fron Daniel Merriam

Dedicated To Yulia

Title page

Back cover

Oh wow Alan has presented me with this new site I’m so excited to have something to build