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Taking my own advice about trying new things, I recently decided to paint a figurative piece. Portrait and figurative pieces have never appealed to me… to paint, that is. I’d much rather paint wildlife, trompe l’oeil, landscapes or still-life artwork. I have puzzled as to why I am not inspired to paint portraits. Painting portraits would seem a great way to cash flow an art career. Perhaps the posed portrait paintings seem too static for me to contemplate producing. The animals that I paint that are stationary, for the most part, reflect animals that are poised to take action. The idea of creating artwork of someone just sitting or standing does not appeal to me, probably because I have always had trouble sitting or standing still. However, when I reviewed some photos that I had taken and saw this picture of my granddaughter tugging on her Grandpa’s hand, it inspired me to paint a figurative piece [she calls him “Gramp” right now at four years old, hence that name in the title]. The juxtaposition of implied movement and restraint, youth and maturity, and light and shade were some of the dynamic elements that inspired me to show this stage of her life. I could hardly sleep at night with the anticipation of getting back to my easel the next day.  Go figure [pun intended]. 

Some pieces that I create are prepared in a painterly realistic style, and others are created with an impressionistic flair. Letting the piece “speak” to me as it evolves determines the direction that I take. Impressionism took hold quickly with this one.  The speed that children change seems like a blur at times, and I felt that the blur of impressionistic brushstrokes would imply this.

Symbolism sometimes sneaks into paintings while I work on them. This piece had several symbolic connections emerge as I worked on it.  Our older granddaughter and her family live very away. As a mom, I want what’s best for my son and his family, but as I told my sons when they were little when something really bothered me, “it hurts my soul” that I can’t see them more than just a few times a year. As a result of seeing them so seldom, we can’t help but want to hold them back from growing up too fast. We miss too many stages of their growth.  My husband holding her hand, trying to hold her back while all the while she strives to move forward, represents our wish to enjoy and hold her to her youth for as long as we can, yet knowing that we cannot stop the sands of time.  Other items also represent confinement… , my husband’s belt restrains his clothing, the sidewalk keeps one on the right path, the rope keeps one from straying too far into dark, unknown areas and the wedding ring symbolizes staying true to one’s beloved.  In addition, her sun hat confines her delicate features from the sun and its damaging rays.

Now that I have finished this piece, I look forward to creating artwork that features her baby sister. Working on this piece made me realize that I need to spread my wings, yet again, so that my aspirations to be the best that I can be, can take flight.