Comments on: Gardell Dano Christensen: To Tell the World of Faraway Places

By: Yahna Christensen

Yahna Christensen — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 19:34:13 +0000

I am the youngest of Gardell’s children. I have a few of his paintings and a file of photo’s from his African trip and most precious to me I have the “Natural History” February 1937 magazine with dad’s painting of the Okapi on the cover and including an article entitled “Hunting the Rare Okapi” showing dad in Africa on the expedition. Several years ago I started a website with Christensen art including dad’s, my sister Barbara’s and mine. It only has one of dad’s sketches right now and I plan to revisit this site soon and include several other of dad’s sketches. The site is yahna.net I should also post several of the photo’s of him in Africa. Additionally dad was a great philosopher. He passed on to me many expressions that have helped guide my life, such as “When there’s a will there’s a way so keep at it until you find the way” and he told me to dream big, but my favorite was “shoot for the moon and if you make it half way you have a tremendous accomplishment”. What wonderful memories we the children of Gardell have. I would appreciate any additional pictures, information and stories on my dad.

By: Nan Sherrill Smith

Nan Sherrill Smith — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 15:47:16 +0000

I met Gardell and Eugenia in Statesboro, just before they moved to Idaho. He taught small classes in painting and was an inspirational artist. He once said “Do you think that Picasso never rejected a sketch? His trashcan was probably full! Keep trying until you get what you want.”
I was never discouraged again. By learning to make dozens of sketches and practice many strokes I improved more than under any teacher I had previously.
The Christensens invited friends and pupils into their home and their hearts. He gave us copies of his book “The White Buffalo” and I made a book of cartoons for him.
I would treasure any early photos of him if someone would email them to me. I worked as a commercial artist since 1984.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 13:24:53 +0000

Fun! Thanks, Tony.

By: Tony Lawrence

Tony Lawrence — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 13:15:17 +0000

My oldest sister (she was around Dano’s age) remembered this:

“Gardell and family had a NY loft apartment with the sleeping arrangements in an open loft accessible by a ladder. The loft did not have walls, but had rails. Do recall riding around the city on buses with Dano and Peter. They took us to Radio City to see the Rockettes and Annie Get Your Gun.”

By: Tony Lawrence

Tony Lawrence — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 23:58:41 +0000

I have asked my older sisters to tell me what they remember. Perhaps they can add something of interest. I also remember visiting their home – we children went out into the woods and I have some memory of Gardell’s children having a bow and some arrows..

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 23:40:05 +0000

Tony — Very happy to hear from you (wanted you to know that your comment was noticed, even though the post is a couple of years old — exactly two years, come to think of it). That must have been a fantastic tour, with such a tour guide and without bother from other tourists. Thanks for mentioning it — it helps to add some depth to Gardell.

By: Tony Lawrence

Tony Lawrence — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 20:31:08 +0000

My parents were friends with Gardell and Eugenia. Sometime in the early fifties we visited them in New York and we had a private, after hours tour of the Museum with Gardell as our guide. I was very young, but it was one of the most interesting days of my life.

By: Peter Christensen

Peter Christensen — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 05:50:00 +0000

TM, As Gardells son I would love to have copies of any pictures or information that you may have to share.

Maryann, yes my father moved to Ga from Wyoming. As I understand it He helped start the Artist Guild there

By: Vaughn Ripley

Vaughn Ripley — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 04:15:16 +0000

It feels good to read a blog post about my grandfather (Dano is my Uncle and Gardell was my mom’s father). Thank you very much for this heartfelt article. Tom Merrick – I would LOVE to get rare photos of grandpa!

By: Maryann

Maryann — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 18:42:37 +0000

Hi,
I was just cleaning out some things when I came across some old paintings I did years ago under the tutaledge of a Gardell Christensen. He had moved to my (then much smaller) town of Statesboro, GA. I knew he was from out west, and was an accomplished wildlife painter, but had no idea how honored I should have been to be in his studio. I am wondering if this was, indeed, the same person in this article.