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| Reaching, size variable, iPad painting |
My mother lived with me for a while when she was suffering with Alzheimer's/dementia. She explained her illness once--she extended her right hand and said that names and memories were floating in the space just beyond her grasp. Several years after her death I dreamed that I saw her stuck in concrete up to her waist, wearing her raincoat. This has been in my head for about four years--time to let it go. This was painted with the iPad app, Procreate.
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| Pansy, colored pencils on paper, 18x12 |
Happy Mother's Day
This drawing began with one pansy; then it grew--had to add a sheet to the bottom. Planning. What's that?
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The title of this post says so much.
ReplyDeleteYou share this deeply personal story and my heart opens wide.
The imagery that you create to convey the utter isolation of this disease is exceptional and so very HW Farber. Stunning.
Beyond the meaning that you make through the work is the work that you're making with this new technology...very impressive this iPad painting program.
The Mother's Day pansy...in extention...seems appropriate...as that's what the healthy Mom's do...they extend themselves , they add on, they keep finding another way to do whatever it is that needs to be done. Planning. What's that? Yeah...exactly.
Happy Mother's Day to you HW!
Hi Donna. You read far beyond the paintings and words. I know you work with caretakers and have a book of poems that would have helped. I'm beginning to think of iPad paintings less as etch-a-sketches and more as end-product paintings. I can't think of a good reason to redo this with real paint on canvas.
DeleteYou're right about mothers finding ways to do what needs to be done. Grandmothering is much easier; especially when the grand kids are 400 miles away. Thank you for the comment and Happy Mother's Day.
Hallie the painting of your mother is stunning and very touching, and as Donna said the title says a lot. The second one is fun, playful and creative ...could almost be a self portrait :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jane. The second one was done at the YMCA--I picked a pansy, then used one of the butt pillows that was stored in the closet. (The bridge club liked soft seats.). Never quite finished the drawing, and was surprised to find both pieces in my workshop.
DeleteBeautiful, both of them.
ReplyDeleteMomo Luna, thank you. I really enjoy following your blog.
DeleteA very touching iPad painting, Hallie :) So sorry you had to see your mother go through this. The colored pencil painting works with the add-on: sort of giving it a stronger foundation after the fact! ha ha
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rhonda. I guess there's no really easy way out. I had read about artists who'd sewn another piece of canvas to their painting. Why not? It was just a drawing for practice--I got lost in the lace pillow cover.
Deletetrès joli post Hallie, j'aime beaucoup tes toiles qui expriment beaucoup de choses, bravo!
ReplyDeletecath.
Thank you, Voyages. I do enjoy experimenting; it would help if I read instructions first.
DeleteOh my...you did such a fantastic job describing your dream in a painting. It's really stunning. I feel so lucky that my Mother did have all her mental faculties all the way to the end. She went completely blind, however, and she lived by herself! Mothers are amazing. You bring great honor to yours with this tribute. I love both paintings.
ReplyDeleteHi Celeste. Your mother must have been an amazing woman. I wasn't thinking of Mother's Day when I started this painting--it took longer than I expected (several weeks). Even on the iPad, I'm slow. Thank you.
DeleteI thought the top piece looked a bit eerie and I see it is indeed by your dream. I hope its painting, which is marvelous - by the way - was cathartic. Love the colored pencil piece and the intricacy of the pillow.
ReplyDeleteHi Crimson Leaves. My parents often show up in dreams but this one stayed for a while--made me wonder what it meant. I suspect Mom felt stuck here on earth after Dad died--they were very close.
DeleteYou have really mastered the iPad drawing app. and the painting and memory of your mother is so touching. Maybe now you can let go. Your lace details in the 2nd piece are romantic and intricate and capture the lace qualities perfectly.
ReplyDeleteHi Robin. Though it wasn't a happy subject, I enjoyed playing with Procreate--I wouldn't say I've mastered it. So many options--pencils, pastels, ink, brushes--the list goes on. I enjoyed working on the lace.
DeleteThis is really well done. You surprised me when you said it was done on an iPad. That surreal quality has followed you to your new medium. I like your drawing also- and I agree. When I plan too much my work is stiff. Planning is overrated.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dan. I've always wondered--does my brain tap into surreal, or does surreal tap into my brain. I probably watched too many "Twilight Zones."
ReplyDeleteThe piece of your Mom is very powerful, Hallie. This deserves to be painted as well and entered in a show.
ReplyDeleteThe pansy is perfect -- planning is overrated!
Hey your getting good with that thing!
ReplyDeleteI find it fascinating what influences ones work, like it a lot!
Good composition!
Thank you, Mary. I always have trouble painting a second time--seems a bit like copying, so this might be it for this work (and this took several weeks).
ReplyDeleteJBKrost--Thank you. You never hint at your influences so I always have to guess. This reminded me a bit of some of your paintings.
ReplyDelete"Reaching" is an impressive work of art. I always look at your paintings before I read about them. So, I did not pick up on this being a digital creation at first. After reading what you wrote, I then went back and could see a few small clues to its digital origins, but just barely. I've worked with digital images nearly every day for the past 2 decades. Rarely have my eyes been fooled to believe that a painting I thought was organic was in fact digital. You have successfully translated your style and content from paper and canvas to the i-Pad. I'm thoroughly impressed.
ReplyDeleteAs for the content... WOW! I want to say more, but words fail me. Kudos for a job well done.
-Don
Don. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
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