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Marjory Allingham
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Marjory Allingham first became interested in European folk
painting when living in Germany as the wife of a US Army
officer. Always interested in crafts and other creative
activities, she took advantage of every opportunity to see the
original folk arts, especially in Germany, Austria, Switzerland
and Denmark. It was during this time that she became
fascinated with both the similarities and the differences
between the styles of folk art in the various countries.
Even though she had never before tried her hand at any type
of painting, it is said "life begins at 40" and so it seemed time
to try something new. Marjory studied folk art at the
Volkshochschule in Heilbronn am Neckar, Germany, from
1976 to 1981. She then moved to Door County, Wisconsin
where she continues working on improving her own
technique, creating her own designs, but remaining true to the
traditional styles. Toward this end, with the opening of the
borders between the old east and west, she has returned to
study the rare museum pieces in eastern Germany,
Czechoslovakia and Hungary.
Folk painting was at its height in many European countries
during the 17th to 19th centuries. It began as an art form of
the people -- of those who painted their simple wooden items
to preserve them and to brighten their homes. They painted
what they knew and loved -- flowers and birds, hearts, roses
and baskets, fruits and horns of plenty, scrolls, shells,
garlands, borders and banners and the many things they
found in their everyday life.
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