Grant’s fascination with gnomes began as a small boy. Several books given and read to him by his aunt and mother aroused his interest in these fantasy creatures. These books contained stories of child lore, fairy tales and funny little peoples living in a world of fantasy. Grant’s development of his gnome characters was his own. He once stated that fantasy was not a study in art school. “It must be developed by the individual through his personal imaginative powers.”
As far back as Vernon Grant could remember, he wanted to be an artist. When he was four years old, his grandfather gave him a box of crayons and watercolors for his birthday. From that time on, it seemed that anyone who came with presents brought young Vernon Grant crayons and watercolors. His mother saved wrappings from cracker boxes for Vernon to draw on and at age 10, he made himself a drawing table out of apple crates. Above the drawing table were shelves where he kept his pencils, watercolors and crayons. The waist-high coulee that ran behind their homestead provided Vernon the clay from which he modeled cowboys, Indians, horses and the whimsical gnomes, that later made him famous.
As far back as Vernon Grant could remember, he wanted to be an artist. When he was four years old, his grandfather gave him a box of crayons and watercolors for his birthday. From that time on, it seemed that anyone who came with presents brought young Vernon Grant crayons and watercolors. His mother saved wrappings from cracker boxes for Vernon to draw on and at age 10, he made himself a drawing table out of apple crates. Above the drawing table were shelves where he kept his pencils, watercolors and crayons. The waist-high coulee that ran behind their homestead provided Vernon the clay from which he modeled cowboys, Indians, horses and the whimsical gnomes, that later made him famous.