Alexandria Artist, 86, Masters Norwegian Painting Style

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - You may have never heard of Rosemaling, but you've probably seen the Norwegian decorative painting.

Enid Grindland, who lives in Alexandria, is one of only 65 people in the country to reach the pinnacle of the folk art technique and win the gold medal from the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Iowa.

The entryway of Grindland's home opens up to the world of her art work.

"I fell in love with Rosemaling in 1970," Grindland said.

Her home serves as her personal art gallery, an homage to her Norwegian heritage. She practices in her home studio.

"I love painting to the flute and violin," she said. "I like to paint to music and classical music, and flute is probably my favorite."

The artist carefully paints each stroke, and prefers to perfect it.

"I decided I was maturing when I could wipe off a whole day's work," Grindland explained. "You study and you study and practice. Each piece gets better."

The wife and mother of four dedicated herself to studying folk art resurrected in the United States by Norwegian-Americans.

She said there are four ingredients to Rosemaling: "The C, the S, the circle and the little teardrops.

"Every piece is a little different, and it tells you what it wants. I look at a piece and I can just see a certain flower on it."

Grindland spent months deciding the color combination, style and form for a 32-inch bowl. And, in 1987, she was awarded a gold medal in Rosemaling.

"I just felt like I'd reached the mountain top," she said.

The amount of time and creativity that goes in to each piece can vary vastly, from 50 to 500 hours.

In her early years, Grindland didn't spare a thought for Rosemaling. She majored in music and wanted to be an organist, but she said her arthritis halted those dreams.

"It just seemed like there were doors that shut, and I just felt like I want to show my kids that I can achieve something, besides scrubbing floors, and that's what drove me, I think," Grindland said.

Her passion for music came back with the art.

"When I'm doing my C's and S's, it's just like a conducting class that I had in college," she said.

She feels her life, and her chosen art, turned out the way life intended.

Even in retirement, Grindland continues to paint a few hours a day.

"It inspires me," Grindland said. "At 86, I need a little inspiration."

Grindland said there are Rosemaling classes offered at various times around Minnesota. She used to teach.

She doesn't just paint bowls and chairs: She painted her grandson's wake surf board.