CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Robert Seaman, the New Hampshire artist who brightened darkish days by creating intricate and imaginative “daily doodles” in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic after which stored at it for almost 5 years, has died. He was 92.
Seaman died on Wednesday at Maplewood Assisted Residing in Westmoreland, based on his daughter, Robin Hayes. He had struggled with power obstructive pulmonary illness lately and by no means absolutely recovered after contracting coronavirus late final fall, she mentioned.
Even in his closing days, Seaman needed to maintain up his inventive streak, Hayes advised The Related Press on Thursday.
“It is what got him out of bed. It’s what kept him going,” she mentioned. “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 crimson 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 an expert artist, moved into the assisted dwelling 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 rapidly 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 mentioned 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 residence, Hayes discovered a field of letters from folks thanking him for his dedication.
Lynn McIntyre, of Hudson, New Hampshire, joined Seaman’s e-mail distribution checklist after seeing him on an area tv program and has regarded ahead to the every day paintings for years. She even commissioned a bit (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 mentioned. “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 mentioned in 2021.
Born Sept. 7, 1932, in Smithtown, New York, Seaman grew up in an inventive household and studied artwork historical past at Williams Faculty earlier than being drafted into the U.S. Military in the course of the Korean Conflict. He later labored within the paper business, 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 mentioned 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 courses for greater than 15 years on the Sharon Arts Heart 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 mentioned.
Along with Hayes, Seaman is survived by his son, Brooks Seaman, two grandchildren and his lifelong pal Appleton Adams. A celebration of his life shall be held within the spring, and can probably embrace among the every day doodles, Hayes mentioned.
“I think it was the people who loved his doodles and looked forward to them that kept him going,” she mentioned. “He was so grateful for that.”
Seaman himself joked in 2021 that he would in all probability “kick the bucket” earlier than working out of concepts for his paintings.
“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.”
