The Nielsens

One of my mother's original NYC friends, from the Brandford Art Agency, was Jon Nielsen.  He attended Pratt Institute, which may be where he met my mother.   He was quite an interesting fellow, a very debonair artist with many talents, of Danish heritage.  He loved opera and singing, and was into yoga and physical fitness.  He was a conscientious objector in WWII. He was a children's book illustrator, and traveled the world sketching what he saw. 

He had two sons, Ian and Kim from his marriage to his first wife, Pegeen. Jon and Pegeen lived in Dobbs Ferry and are the reason that my parents decided to build a house in that town.  After they divorced, he married Kay and had daughter, Joneen.  I babysat Joneen as an infant, and later when I took her to Gould Park to play.  Recently I heard from Joneen, who shared these paintings with me:

Joneen Nielsen

Kay Nielsen - ca.1960's

Kay Nielsen I believe Kay posed for a life drawing class for this portrait.