I was looking through old photos on my computer, when I came across a snapshot of my paternal grandparents that had been among the photos on an old phone that a family member had given me. I loved the composition of the photo: the angles, the colors. It was also poignant because it must have been one of the final photos of my grandparents before they left their longtime home. I’d never painted people before, but felt up to the challenge.
My favorite thing about this painting beyond the people is the memories of the house that it evokes: the slippery, angled (borderline dangerous?) concrete steps, the throw rug that would ripple and threaten to trip visitors, the way all comers were funneled through the rickety storm door and into the small kitchen to be received. It was a very distinctive place. I also loved the coincidental symbolism of the sunset reflected in the porch window.
Details
Size: 9″ x 12″
Medium: Watercolor on Paper
Completed: March 2022
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The Process
I made a video documenting the progress of this piece. Music is a big part of my process, and I try to listen to music that evokes the era or the subject matter of the painting I’m working on. For this one, I listened to “big band” as reflected in the video soundtrack.