Capturing Memories

Capturing Memories

It is my honor in my work to be able to capture a memory.  It could be a past memory of a family event, a special place, the family pet or people that are no longer with you.  I do this with the use of photographs.  I can work from one photograph or many and combine them into one painting.  Most recently I combined a picture of Great Grandpa, Grandpa, Dad and son from 4 different pictures.  The son was only 4 and had never met his great grandpa so when the son saw the picture he asked who that man was.  It gave the family an opportunity to remember great grandpa and share their stories and love with the son.  That’s the kind of thing I like to do in my art.

Another painting I did was for a daughter who had just lost her mom after her mom suffered for years with Alzheimer’s.  The picture was of the two of them, thick as thieves, before the disease changed her.  The painting helped the daughter remember her mother, the closeness and love they shared.

I’ve done a number of dog portraits of living and of dogs that had passed.  All bring memories into the home because of the love they shared.  My hope it that my work brings joy.  One of my first memory portrait was of a home, not owned by the family anymore.  They asked if I would add in the painting red geraniums because every summer their Nana would plant red geraniums in the flower boxes and around the house.  So now when they look at the painting they see their Nana even though I did not paint her in the picture.  They remember her even though it has been a long time since she passed and it makes them smile.

 I am a realistic painter.  I am a story teller.  I like capturing memories and touching people’s hearts with my work.