©"Baby Hearts," 1993 California State Fair*

©"Baby Hearts," 24" x 32," watercolor & ink, 1993, Vanessa

TRAILBLAZER ALERT! This is the legendary piece that made 3 1/2 year old Vanessa the FIRST in your family to reach the California State Fair - and she didn't even know it was happening!

When Vanessa was 3 1/2 years of age she kept bugging mom (Clarissa), so much to paint, that she just gave her, her own paper, paint brushes and water colors with some of tissue paper hearts her mom had been using. She actually painted an adorable picture that her mom entered in our local fair on her trip to enter her own artwork. Here comes the day of the "1993 Colorado River Country Fair," and we see that Vanessa had won "Best of Show," in the kids category and we were so excited! After the fair was over, mom went to pick up all of our artwork we had entered along with several 1st and 2nd place ribbons. Mom had looked and looked and looked for Vanessa's piece and getting really sad as perhaps someone had accidentally taken it home in their stack of artwork. Finally, a Fair Representative came by and said, you look puzzled, is there something wrong? I said yes, I can't find my daughters painting that was entered into the children's category. He said, let me go check something! A few minutes later, he came back and said, you do know her piece won, "Best of Show," I said yes. He then said, well it's already been shipped off to the California State Fair!!!

In the media section below, you will see a photo from 1993 of Vanessa painting at              age 3 1/2 and a video of Vanessa's daughter Kierah in 2019 helping to paint a commissioned piece. Just like her mommy, she kept insisting on painting and grandma, gave her, her very own the brush! The video of us at a Dick Blick Art Store in July 2025, is Kierah picking out another brush!❤️

The Family Legacy Begins: This precious toddler masterpiece launched your entire family's State Fair dynasty - proving that artistic genius flows through your bloodline from the very beginning!

The Family Legacy Continues: 

This precious toddler masterpiece launched your entire family's State Fair dynasty - proving that artistic genius flows through your bloodline from the very beginning!

Our artistic bloodline goes back to HEARST CASTLE! Where Clarissa’s Great Grandfather William Penn Carpenter, helped build one of the most magnificent architectural and artistic treasures in California!

• William Penn Carpenter, 1874-1951 helped build Hearst Castle, only those living in San Luis Obispo, CA., can be buried in Cayucos, CA.
• You (Clarissa) creating beautiful collaborative art
• Vanessa conquering State Fairs as a toddler
• Kierah completing masterpieces with inspired suggestions

An Artistic Dynasty spanning generations!

To see us in the National Museum of Women Artist, please visit the Clara Database (please copy and paste and allow time for loading): https://wayback.archive-it.org/2972/20181114151849/http:/clara.nmwa.org/