Artist, Wife and Mother
Mom attended the Chicago Art Institute for several years and described it as being one of the most exciting times of her life. She blossomed. She also met my father, fellow artist Richard Maxwell Green, through a mutual friend. Dad was on leave from the Navy. They married and set up their first shared studio in the Douglas Entrance Apartments in Coral Gables, Florida — but did not stay there for long. In the late 40’s, my parents purchased a small post-war development home in Noroton Heights, Connecticut to be closer to the Manhattan art scene. Dad acquired an agent, established a unique relationship with both ESQUIRE and SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, joined the Society of Illustrators and raced sports cars. Mom had two kids. Her career was launched painting on the ironing board, decorating white ceramic dishes late at night, sewing toys from scrap fabric and carving lino-blocks on the kitchen table. With Dick’s help, Dagmar was hired to illustrate a TV ad for Nabisco and her paintings were exhibited at the Bravermann Gallery on 57th Street in New York as well as in other venues in and around Darien.
Ink and paper collage of Dagmar done by her husband, Dick Green, for Good House Keeping magazine. One of a series.
Oil painting on corrugated cardboard of Dick Green by his wife, Dagmar. 1950’s.
“Young Girl with Cat” oil on canvas
"Child in Highchair" oil on canvas board, 1950's
“Emu” oil on canvas. 1950’s.
“Self Portrait” oil on canvas, 1950’s.
Hand painted Zodiac dish by Dagmar in the early 50’s
Our family relocated back to Coral Gables, Florida in 1964. It was a difficult and disruptive move in almost every way possible - with the exception of Dagmar’s painting. She found a way to cope with life’s challenges though her work: setting up her easel in the dining room and mixing her paints on dinner plates. Mom's paintings were shown locally at venues such as the Grove House, Lowe Gallery at the University of Miami and Rogue’s Gallery in the Gables. Mom enjoyed showing with her friend, Mary Margaret Blakely, a hugely talented ceramics artist who, much to my amazement, lived with her husband and two sons in an isolated house/studio surrounded by the Everglades.