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The Importance of Representing Loved Ones in the Way They Would Approve
Thank you Chris and Mary Ann, for your very kind comments.
This, most certainly, was an important portrait for me as I truly wanted to represent her in a way that SHE would have loved. She didn't want me to take her picture to paint her as she thought she appeared ugly. (She was blind.) I took her photo surreptitiously. She was aware of her appearance until the moment she died. She used to ask me, at age 94, if blueberry muffins were fattening. I lied to my mother without shame.
My mother lived in California in the Motion Picture Health & Welfare Home, and as I now live in Arizona, this portrait was a huge deviation from the normal funeral routine. At 94, she had run out of people who would attend a California service as well as a person who would present it for the few remaining relatives. My odd-ball way to let people know of her death was to send out cards with this portrait on the cover and a note re: her loving relationship with her family to all who knew her. (Of course, I wrote it and the obituary for the L.A. Times, too, which was included in the card.)
Gratefully, I can say, my portrait of her, of whatever quality level it was, was my only way of expressing gratitude for a mother who loved her children unconditionally.
Some posthumous portraits are VERY IMPORTANT to those who love the person to be painted. This portrait was very important to me.
Every time we paint a posthumous portrait, it, probably will have more than the average importance.
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