Illustrations of Fatherhood

Photo by Nick Wilkes - http://www.nickwilkesphotography.com/

It's nearly Father's Day! It's on Sunday June 21st! I thought I'd kick off celebrations a little early by showing a couple of of illustrations that I've found from around the web, that I think say "fatherhood" quite nicely.

I should point out that while I live with a mum, I don't have any children myself, so I may be quite wide of the mark as to what fatherhood actually is. I know what a father feels like as a son, but I don't yet, and may never know what being a father feels like. Maybe I should start deciding what kind of dad I would like to be for if that day comes...

From where I stand now, though, it seems that fatherhood is about love, about teaching, about protection, and about respect. To me, a dad should be someone to look up to - someone who does what's right, not what's easy.
I'm very lucky to have had a dad when I was growing up who showed me all of these things, and who is now a friend who continues to show me these things.

To all those great dads, both those with us and those remembered, and to those sons and daughters thus squired... Happy Father's Day!

Read on for the illustrations...

---

First image up is "Dad" by Brandon Jaffords. an L.A.-based story artist: www.brandonjeffords.com

I like this image because it looks happy, and content, and fun, and sleepy, like the two have had one of those days that wears you out in the good kind of way, and the way the dad's arm is poised is relaxed, but with just a hint of protection there.
I love this image!

Brandon told me:

"I painted that piece a few years ago after my dad died. Some of my fondest memories with my dad are going out to get ice cream. It felt like the world would stop in those moments and that nothing else mattered. It's a source of great happiness for me and I've tried to continue the tradition with my own kids."

"Dad" - by Brandon Jeffords

---

"Pride and Joy" by Lonnie Ollivierre

Next up is "Pride and Joy" by Lonnie Ollivierre, a Brooklyn-based artist - www.lonnieostudio.com

I love this picture for the love it shows in a small touching moment, and for the fact that, certainly in my experience, when guys dressed like this are shown in the media and so on, they tend to be portrayed as hoodlums and gangstas and that this painting shows him as looking entirely street, but being anything but a gangsta in this moment. It is also something of a salve to the unfortunate "absent" stereotype that black fathers often find themselves burdened with.

In fact, I really like Ollivierre's whole section on his website dedicated to family. It's rather touching.

---

This here is "Fatherhood" by Alex Nabaum, a Utah-based artist - www.alexnabaum.com

I love this piece for it's suggesting that dads are a springboard for their children. To me, it's suggesting that dads are platforms that help their children achieve a position where they can jump off to become their own person.
I love that the child's looking back. I don't know who looks more concerned here. The dad's smile looks encouraging but concerned and the boy is smiling but almost hesitantly. I don't know whether it's to attain final reassurance from his dad, or to give his dad final reassurance that he'll be fine.
I'm sure fatherhood, and parenthood in general must be scary when you realise that your child is now past the point where you can protect them from everything, including themselves. It must be terrifying to know that while you can still help support your child, you must also let them fly or fall.

Nabaum's other images, such as those on his website are often very clever and quite thought provoking and I recommend you check them out!

"Fatherhood" by Alex Nabaum

---

---

The last picture I want to leave you with is actually a comic strip. It's from the webcomic called "Lunar Babboon" which is drawn by... someone. 
I've been following this webcomic for a few months now since I stumbled across it somehow, but I can't actually find the artist's name!
If you've never seen it before, it's a lovely comic that very often touches on fatherhood, family, and values and comes across as rather truthful and touching. There were many comics I could have picked for here, but this one, called "Regret" always stuck in my head.
We've all been there - we've said something and instatntly regretted it. I can only imagine how awful that must feel when it's your own child you're regretting saying that thing to.

Dad's aren't perfect. They don't always get it right. Mine didn't and neither did yours. But the good ones can know this, and strive to do better for you next time.

"Regret" - from www.lunarbaboon.com

And of course, if you're after a Father's Day card, you can get one of those from me, here!

Here's my Pinterest board to these and other illustrations of "fatherhood" I've found around the web:

Follow Curtis Allen - Artist, Illustrator, and Greetings Cards's board Fatherhood Illustrations on Pinterest.

What are your thoughts on any of these pictures or on fatherhood?
If you've any images yourself that you've created, or have, or have found that represent fatherhood to you, I'd love to see them!
Please share them via the comments!