I’m not sure how this happened but Theo’s portraits crept into what was going to be another portrait of Ms Soula. So now I’m not sure if this is a portrait or a still life. Perhaps it’s a bit of both, or is it a portrait with portraits of Theo!
Whatever.
I wanted to give Ms Soula something more substantial to sit on rather than leave that detail ambiguous as in the last portrait, Self Portrait, Art & Chronic Pain. One detail seemed to draw the need for the other. I began with the journal Ms Soula is sitting on, then added the wooden Ex Libris set of draws, and before I knew it, the two portraits I painted of Theo many years ago also appeared. It does make sense to include these portraits of Theo, in reality Theo is such a huge support always looking out for when I might need his help… it’s a very telling piece of my pain situation and the way both Theo and I approach it.
So, is this a still life or a portrait? To be honest, it doesn’t matter either way to me… I’m just doing the painting!