Helena - Hope
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Just started painting while I was wondering the lush green garden around the house where my summer Studio is. Began with a quick charcoal drawing then continued to paint with acrylic, using limited palette. I worked quickly just letting the feelings guide me and do not hesitate too much on the facial features. Followed the lights and darks. I couldn't finish the process because my son showed up and wanted me to drive him home. In order to stop his nagging, I put my painting away and left the canvas unfinished.
Next day, I came back and tried to continue with the same energy but it somehow shifted and I painted much slower. How does it happen? I don't know, another day, another energy.
As I was painting, my childhood friend, Helena came to my mind again and again. She has just lost his father and her sadness took over my mood while I tried to slip into lighter thoughts. I know how important her father was to her. She lost her mother in an accident when she was 15. Loosing a mother as a teenager is tough. I saw it twice. My boyfriend also lost his mother a year ago before Helena. I remembered that Helena's father tried hard to keep the family together and was always there for her. Helena's father was old already. But still. It is so difficult loosing a parent. Reminded me the time when I lost mine. When I stopped painting I realised that I could not keep the loose energy of the previous day, the sadness showed up on the face of the girl.
On the third day, I just wanted to refine my painting. I thought she might have been finished and took the painting with me, hanging it to my living room wall. But I was not satisfied and I did not know what was missing. Later, I noticed that I needed to add Hope to it. She was sad but I knew that she had her husband and her children with her. So, I needed something, a positive energy. What can represent Hope? First, I thought that a hand on her shoulder would be great indicating that she was not alone, but hm, didn't like. Might be a butterfly on her shoulder could be nice representing the Hope and the way how her father can be close to her.
But I have not painted the butterfly. Not yet. Added some bright purple to her hair and gold as highlight. But what stops me finishing her? (I placed a real rose before the painting. )
What represents Hope for You? What would feel good to you to seeing on this painting? And how would you title it? Helena? Hope? See you again? Something else?