My mum has more of my work than any other individual, but apart from cards, I have never made something specifically for her. She expressed interest in getting a large print from me, early in the year, but due to some technical difficulties, that was put on hold.
Summer, however, has always been a challenging time of year for me. Even a full time job doesn't quite give me enough structure or stimulation. This year, I decided to put my free time to better use, and increase my creativity. I made a list of pictures I would like to paint, and it occurred to me that maybe I should do this one — my mum's favourite. It would certainly be a better birthday present than a card!
Anyway, I began this painting back in June with some new approaches. Firstly, I made my own 30"x40" frame, and stretched the canvas. At my mum's request, I also broke from my black&white tradition. Instead, to make the image less harsh, I we opted for a dark grey. Specifically, I used some Farrow & Ball "Downpipe" over my standard, Ti white acrylic. I absolutely loved the colour and consistency of the wall paint; it made the detail work much easier.
Having said that, I am only just about to finish the piece, having now put in over two hundred hours. It is the most complex work in the model series, and has challenged my skills. It was on display at Uproar Interiors, in Ottawa, through August of 2013. (fig.1)
(fig.1. Myself at Uproar)
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