There is a portrait I painted of my father that sits on a picture ledge in my studio, it’s been there since the very day I finished it. I often look over at this portrait while I am painting and it always gives me a good laugh. This particular painting makes me reminisce about one of my favorite memories with my dad.
It was September of 1978 and I was attending The Philadelphia College Of Art while living at my parents house. One day, my father asked me to paint his portrait; I said yes, of course, I would like to do that for him. I asked him to sit for me and I began to set up my easel and pad; then I quickly decided to use pastels. My dad sat patiently as I began to draw and every so often, he would anxiously ask to see my progress. I consistently responded to be patient but finally after two hours of sitting still he said, “I must see it!” So I showed him – I slowly turned his portrait around; I still remember the surprised look on his face when he realized the portrait depicted him as Count Dracula, the Vampire and not the professional portrait he was expecting. We looked at each other and laughed; my dad was always a good sport.
On April 16, 2000, my father was diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer and was given six months to live. In October of the same year, my dad started to decline; my wife and I made the decision to bring him into our home on hospice care so he could pass peacefully surrounded by his family. As the days at home with him lingered on, they became very somber and stressful as we saw my father dying and felt helpless. But one day, although he could barely talk, my father rallied the strength to say a few words. After listening close, we realized he was remembering the vampire portrait I did of him. All of us were surprised he remembered this and instead of feeling sad, we all laughed; even my father was laughing with tears in his eyes. I am grateful that in my dad’s last days here on earth, my art was able to break up the sadness and bring joy and comfort to him and my family, even if it was only for a few moments.
My father passed away shortly after that and for the next ten years on the anniversary of his death, I would try to honor him by painting the “professional” portrait he had always wanted. I had to do this from memory as we did not have many pictures to look at. After almost a decade of trying, I became frustrated that I was not able to achieve a likeness of my father but filled with determination, I decided his 10th anniversary would be the year I finally completed the piece. With great confidence, I closed my eyes, pictured my father’s face once again and took a deep breath. I began the outline and surprisingly, within only an hour and a half, I had a portrait I felt captured the likeness of my dad.
I took a step back and looked in remembrance at the piece of work that took me ten years to finish. I knew my dad would have been thrilled to see it but I am certain he was right by my side, looking at it with me. Although the original vampire portrait was lost over the years, I decided to recreate it a few years ago. The portrait of my dad will always be a two piece collection. Each version of his portrait represents the memory of joy brought about through art, in both a time of happiness and sadness. The healing power of art is why I continue to be an artist today.
DO YOU BELIEVE ART CAN LIFT SPIRITS DURING A TIME OF SADNESS?
Art Talk with JoePencils 