Grandparents Use Gorgeous Art and Instagram to Stay Connected to Their Globetrotting Grandkids

How are grandparents supposed to stay in touch with their grandchildren if the latter are  spread out all over the world? One couple has found an inventive way to keep in touch that combines creativity and social media.

75-year-old Chan Jae lives in San Paulo, Brazil with his wife. However their three grandsons are on opposite sides of the globe, with two living with their daughter in Korea and the third with their son in New York. Looking for a new way to stay in touch, Jae came up with the idea of an Instagram account called “drawings_for_my_grandchildren.” The feed is made up of stunning watercolor drawings Jae does of everyday life, each accompanied by a story written by his wife.

The posts vary in content. Some examine both the natural and manmade beauty of Brazil.

Sometimes we forget we live in Brazil. It happens when we watch the clouds in the sky. It’s been already 35 years since we came to Brazil from Korea. Time went by just like the passing clouds… #drawing #watercolor #brazil #clauds #sky #korea As vezes a gente esquece que estamos morando no Brasil. Isso acontece quando vejo as nuvens no céu. Já se passaram 35 anos desde que mudamos da Coréia para o Brasil. O tempo passou como a nuvem que passa no céu… 때때로 브하질 에 살고 있음을 잊을 때가 있다. 하늘에 떠가는 구름을 볼 때 그렇다. 벌써 35년이랑 시간이 지났구나. 하늘에 지나가는 구름처럼 시간도 지나갔네…

A photo posted by chanjae (@drawings_for_my_grandchildren) on Nov 30, 2016 at 7:35am PST

This small church in a small rural town made us want to go inside. We wondered if the painter who painted the blue wall or the carpenter who carved the ornaments around the cross may be inside the church to pray. #drawing #watercolor #crayon #church A pequena igreja que vi na praça da cidade me fez ficar com vontade de abrir suas portas e entrar. Já dava para imaginar pessoas rezando ao pé de uma cruz com ornamentos e paredes pintados com tom de azul celeste. 시골 마을에서 본 작은 교회는 정말 문을 열고 들어가고 싶었다. 벽에다 푸른 칠을 한 사람과 십자가에다 장식을 덧붙인 사람이 기도 들이고 있을 듯해서.

A photo posted by chanjae (@drawings_for_my_grandchildren) on Nov 17, 2016 at 8:23am PST

Others capture scenes of day-to-day life.

What makes this little boy so curious? I’m also curious. What is this little boy looking at? I also want to see it together. #drawing #watercolor Que menino curioso! Também fiquei curioso. O que ele está olhando? Quero ver também!

A photo posted by chanjae (@drawings_for_my_grandchildren) on Nov 14, 2016 at 8:42am PST

The day is starting with a very grey sky. It’s hot during the day and it’s been raining a lot. There are kids with cold too. You guys also have a strange weather too, right? #drawing #watercolor #sky O dia começa com um céu cinzento. Faz calor no período da tarde e tem vezes que chove também. As crianças com gripe não páram de assoar o nariz. Esse tempo estranho faz por aí também, não é? 잔뜩 흐린 하늘로 하루를 시작한다. 낮엔 덥고 때론 큰 비도 내린다. 감기든 아이들이 계속 코를 푼다. 이상한 날씨는 너희네도 같지?

A photo posted by chanjae (@drawings_for_my_grandchildren) on Oct 28, 2016 at 9:13am PDT

Some are even portraits of the children themselves.

Run, Astro, run! #drawing #watercolor Corre Astro, corre! 달려라 아로!!!

A photo posted by chanjae (@drawings_for_my_grandchildren) on Oct 16, 2016 at 8:21am PDT

Baby is sleeping. Astro is in a deep sleep. Peace is embracing Astro. #drawing #watercolor O bebê está dormindo. O Astro está dormindo tranquilamente. A paz está abraçando o pequeno Astro. 애기가 잔다. 아로가 곤하게 자고 있다. 평화가 아로를 감싸준다.

A photo posted by chanjae (@drawings_for_my_grandchildren) on Oct 23, 2016 at 9:53am PDT

Finally some are just for fun.

An Irish designer made a Batman costume equipped with 23 weapons. What do you think, boys? #drawing #watercolor #irish #designer #batman Um designer irlandês montou a roupa do Batman equipado com 23 tipos de armamento e claro, em formato de morcego. O que vocês acharam, meninos? 배트맨이 멋진 옷을 입고 나타났다. 아일랜드의 디자이너가 만든 이 옷에는 박쥐모양의 표창은 물론 실제로 사용할 수 있는 무기가 23개나 들어 있다고 한다. 얘들아! 어떠니?

A photo posted by chanjae (@drawings_for_my_grandchildren) on Oct 6, 2016 at 10:00am PDT

The project has been a great success for all involved, allowing both grandparents the ability to stretch their creative muscles while at the same time remaining a major part in their grandsons’ lives. For more of Jae’s images, be sure to follow the account here.