CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Robert Seaman, the New Hampshire artist who brightened darkish days by creating intricate and imaginative “daily doodles” through the COVID-19 pandemic after which saved at it for practically 5 years, has died. He was 92.
Seaman died on Wednesday at Maplewood Assisted Residing in Westmoreland, in keeping with his daughter, Robin Hayes. He had struggled with persistent obstructive pulmonary illness in recent times and by no means totally recovered after contracting coronavirus late final fall, she stated.
Even in his closing days, Seaman needed to maintain up his artistic streak, Hayes informed The Related Press on Thursday.
“It is what got him out of bed. It’s what kept him going,” she stated. “His day consisted of basically drinking coffee and having his morning doughnut, then spending a couple of hours doodling. And then: lunch, a nap and two or three more hours doodling. It was his happy place.”
Seaman’s closing doodle, #1727, was launched on Valentine’s Day and depicts a bull and a matador holding a purple heart-shaped flag. He created a particular doodle the day earlier than for Hayes’ birthday.
Seaman, who left an actual property profession at age 60 to grow to be knowledgeable artist, moved into the assisted residing facility in southwestern New Hampshire simply two weeks earlier than it was locked down within the early days of the pandemic. Barred from leaving his room for months, he shortly returned to his favourite boyhood pastime: drawing.
“The first thought I had was to just do some kind of dark stuff that reflected the nature of the confinement that we were experiencing and the difficulties that were created by this pandemic,” he stated in a 2021 interview. “Then it just started to grow, and I thought it would be interesting to do one a day.”
Hayes started sharing the doodles on Fb and providing originals and prints on the market. By the point Seaman died, he had raised $20,000 for native charities and attracted followers close to and much. Cleansing out his condominium, Hayes discovered a field of letters from individuals thanking him for his dedication.
Lynn McIntyre, of Hudson, New Hampshire, joined Seaman’s electronic mail distribution listing after seeing him on a neighborhood tv program and has regarded ahead to the every day art work for years. She even commissioned a chunk (Doodle #282) that includes her late daughter’s favourite issues: dolphins, sunflowers and the colour blue.
“He captured her love for these things perfectly with love and care,” McIntyre stated. “Rest in peace, Mr. Seaman, and thank you for brightening even my darkest days.”
The artist began most of his doodles with pencil sketches and completed them with ink, coloured pencil and watercolor. Many showcased his fascination with science fiction, others featured whimsical animals and sly humor.
“When I get stuck, I’ll just start drawing an object and it’s like word association. I’ll draw a hand, and all of a sudden that suggests something else, so it just grows from there,” he stated in 2021.
Born Sept. 7, 1932, in Smithtown, New York, Seaman grew up in an inventive household and studied artwork historical past at Williams School earlier than being drafted into the U.S. Military through the Korean Struggle. He later labored within the paper trade, promoting and actual property earlier than returning to artwork.
“I was full of anxiety, unhappiness and depression, and the minute I made this jump, as risky as it was, all of that anxiety and depression lifted,” he stated of the profession transfer.
Seaman went to work for a Boston greeting card firm and commenced illustrating books and magazines. He later was an artist in residence at Hawk Mountain Resort in Vermont and taught drawing lessons for greater than 15 years on the Sharon Arts Middle in New Hampshire.
Carmela Azzaro, 82, met Seaman in a determine drawing class when Seaman was in his early 80s.
“He was a role model for me to continue my artistic journey as an octogenarian, and each day his doodles reminded me to make every moment of life count,” Azzaro stated.
Along with Hayes, Seaman is survived by his son, Brooks Seaman, two grandchildren and his lifelong pal Appleton Adams. A celebration of his life might be held within the spring, and can doubtless embody a few of the every day doodles, Hayes stated.
“I think it was the people who loved his doodles and looked forward to them that kept him going,” she stated. “He was so grateful for that.”
Seaman himself joked in 2021 that he would in all probability “kick the bucket” earlier than operating out of concepts for his art work.
“Selfishly, it keeps me occupied and I love doing it,” he said. “But also it does help some other people, which is kind of nice.”
