“Came in close, I heard a voice,
standing, stretching every nerve,
had to listen,
had no choice”
– “Solsbury Hill” by Peter Gabriel
I am still oil painting..
I am always amazed at how sometimes a painting can almost will itself into life. The ideas flow and stack on one another and before you know it an image builds into something more personal than you had ever thought you could create.
So it is with the oil painting I am working on now of my son. No longer a boy, (with red ears) the man he has become will be graduating from high school and I just have this overwhelming desire to stop time for a bit and paint him before he leaves for college.
He is a rock climber, and a good one. I am proud to say I will cheer him on at Nationals for US Climbing in Portland, Oregon in July. Until then, he is training and training and training. Hanging off the door jambs while doing one-armed pull-ups. (who is this monster in my kitchen wiping out all the food?)
So just like with all the other phases of my life, I paint where I am in this stage of my life. At night. On weekends. Every day. It is calling me. Because this is where I am right now- on the verge of being an empty-nester and so proud of him I could bust. So I paint him. His strength. His focus. His determination. Not even sure what I am doing. Not sure where the painting was going to go…. listening to the little voice that said to just do it.
This time I reached for the oils. Scribbled ideas, found armatures and a host of reasons for creating the image. Found the narrative. Then made him pose with a chalk-bag in hand (that climbers use) and he graciously, (like always) poses for me.
This is the beginning of “Ascend”
More next week.
Love the spirit of this post…
As always, so intrigued!
Thank you for sharing, and also for the link to the other drawings.
So looking forward to your progress. I love how you share your passion and what drives you.
😊
More power to you, Christine! Glad you listen like you do. (…and…”Hey,” I said, “you can keep my things, they’ve come to take me home.” Love that song.)
I love that song too!
It looks amazing already – love that I can see the progress .
🙂
So excited for him and can’t wait to see what final painting comes to life.
Seems just like yesterday this wee boy was shivering with his glowing ears! I can’t wait to see this new version of your son!
I know, crazy.