FIRST ATTEMPTS AT PORTRAITS FROM LIFE

Oil paints on canvas board - Jez

I wanted to share with you a couple of unfinished portraits of my daughter Carol.  They are just the second level of under-paintings, and for some reason they were never finished.

Although I have always drawn faces, and copied faces from newspapers and magazines, this was the first time I tried to paint a portrait from life.

Oil paints on fine grain canvas board.
14" x 18" - Jez

This is the full size of the picture, but I think I prefer the digital crop that I showed at the top.  At the time she was just 18 years old - 36 years ago.

Is it a good resemblance?  Well not quite, but both Dev and I feel it shows her beauty, calmness and reserve, and something of her brave, determined character.

Blue Oil Paint on canvas board - Jez

This is a digital crop of a blue version I tried at the same time - again unfinished.  Now that it is displayed here I see a diagonal line of shadow at the top, cast by the window when I was taking the photograph for this post.

This is the full painting. The paintings have suffered a bit from be stored one on top of another in various cupboards over the years.  It's not quite as like her as the one with the yellow background.

Whatever their artistic value, these unfinished paintings are beyond price for Dev and me.  They are more personal than a photograph and incorporate memories of that time.

Our dear, beloved daughter Carol died last week, after years of struggle with an inoperable brain tumour.  At last she is at peace.

I would also like to share with you a poem I wrote - and put away - when she was first diagnosed in 1995.

This poem is about EVERY mother's relationship with a daughter, and the extent to which a mother's love can put right all problems.   These are not all events that happened to Carol, who was fortunate enough to have a happy marriage and a wonderful, caring husband and family.

                                     KISS IT BETTER MUMMY

                         I've hurt my knee, Mummy,
                         kiss it better.

                         I broke my doll, Mummy,
                         mend it please.

                         I lost my coat, Mummy,
                         say it doesn't matter.

                         My boyfriend left me,
                         help me see it through.

                         I crashed the car, Mum,
                         pay the garage bill please.

                         My husband's been unfaithful,
                         hug me, please.

                         You've always solved the problems,
                          I've relied on you.

                         I have a tumour on my brain,
                         kiss it better, Mummy.

Thank you for reading this tribute to our lovely daughter.

Linking to Paint Party Friday