Finishing touches

Turns out I did think about recording the process
before I began the Elizabeth portrait progress
photos I showed you here recently.

Here are two photos of the portrait of her sister, Madeline. One is taken a few days before the other one, and in that time
I completed the painting. The silver is real silver leaf -- lovely
stuff to work with, but be sure
to glaze it, or it goes black.

Madeline, was the center of the triptych featuring Sean, her brother, Madeline and
Elizabeth. She was 10 when I began the
work, and an astonishingly sunny child.
Her happy nature and the easy confidence
of a well loved little girl, made the painting
almost effortless.

Right now it's late at night and thundering.
I'm waiting for my son to get home from
his Prom, and to bed, because we have
to drive him to the camp bus for 8 a.m.
So I'm going to sign off.

Have a calm-after-the-storm day.

An Honourable record

Last spring I had the distinct honour of painting my first Order of Canada. Judge Ann Northcote is a citizenship judge, and a spirited joyful woman. You could not imagine a fairer person for the role of citizenship judge, or a more passionate Canadian citizen. She embodies the best of what being Canadian means, and uses her office to join with others. She is warm, kind and has spent her life serving good causes.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/ENGLISH/department/
commission/cit-judges.asp#northcote

Bruce, her husband, was an accountant, and is now
retired. His current passions are his garden and
travelling. The Northcotes wanted me to put their
beloved swimming pool in their portraits. The
paintings don't join, but the background links them.

Thinking that the paintings would be displayed on the
same wall, I portrayed them facing each other. Bruce is
devoted to his wife, and her champion. She feels
the same way about him, which is always touching
to see.

Although Ann is wearing her Order of Canada pin, she
did not want to be painted in her official court robes.
Bruce is a sharp dresser and showed up the first day
in a lovely red tie. He is a quiet, somewhat shy man,
and a few sessions into the painting, added the red pocket
handkerchief. He'd noticed that I like red. True.

I was very fond of both of them. One difficulty of being
a portrait painter, is saying goodbye to your subjects
when the process is completed.

Have an honourable day.