Solace

This painting originated from a photograph of my little daughter, Traci, and niece, Kristi.  I was intrigued by the way Traci seemed to be consoling her cousin and best friend.  Still not sure what was ever going on. 

My first thought was to have Traci holding a teddy bear, while Kristi’s would be lying on the ground.  Then I thought about having the stuffing coming out of Kristi’s bear, so I decided to portray my other daughter Rachelle’s cat “Tango” in hiding behind Kristi’s leg, as if to be saying, “I didn’t do it.”

My wife suggested that might not be what mothers would want for their daughter’s room, so I decided to use dolls instead of teddy bears.  Traci was to be holding her doll while Kristi’s would be lying on the floor, so I decided to have Kristi’s doll’s head come off.  I was excited about the idea and did a layout and, once again, showed it to my wife.  She took one look and said, “No – what mother would want a be-headed doll for her daughter?" 

Rejected again, I went back to my studio.  So I thought, “How about an arm falling off? After all that’s what happens sometimes.”  Finally, my wife agreed.  I worked on the arm and when it was finished, in the wee hours of the morning, I stood back with a coke and candy bar and relished my work. 

I was then shocked to realize I had painted the doll with two left arms!  Wipeout!  Start again.  Finally, hours and hours late into the night, it was done and “Solace” was complete.

Solace

 

1250 s\n

50  a\p    

image size 18x32