THE SAMARITAN
Awarded The Mary Dugdale Award for Portraiture
Oil on Linen
I was attending a Pain Psychologist in the hospital to see if I could enhance my pain management techniques. After six weeks of intense frankness, he explained that to continue the sessions would only help him develop his knowledge in pain strategies and would not help me.
When returning to my car, I had difficulty crossing the road because of the extreme pain level. The pain had taken a rare opportunity to consume me because of the disappointing news. Suddenly, a gentleman appeared. He had been deeply affected watching me struggle and came to help. He was a French chef and had set up home in Belfast, expecting his wife to join him. That day she decided not to follow his dream and didn’t arrive. We talked until I felt able to drive home.
Months later, I thought I was painting the Pain Psychologist, but I dropped my brush, astonished, when I realised that the French chef was appearing on the canvas.
I contacted hotels in Belfast and left my email address. Weeks later, I got a reply. He had gone home and was not in contact with his wife, ignoring her attempts to reach him. I suggested he should talk to her and explained the painting to him, which lifted his spirits. Weeks later, he contacted me again and explained that he had taken my advice and they were now happily back together.
The hot air floating behind illustrates the Pain Psychologist’s inability to help, and the gentleman depicted was The Samaritan.
I wanted the image to sympathetically connect with the depth of my pain in a very calming manner, and for the kindness in the eyes to reflect my faith in human nature. He does not want to connect with the viewer because he is not looking for the limelight. I did not want to put him front and centre because I wanted to depict a selfless image almost not wanting to appear on the canvas at all, therefore I sensitively placed him at the edge. He takes no care of his own appearance or wellbeing; his only purpose in life is to give to others.
I have even challenged the convention in the use of landscape canvases for portraiture to stretch our perception of normality. People with a disability are perceived to be different from the norm; however, for them it is their normal.
—
Original: SOLD
Framed Print: Available for Order
Awarded The Mary Dugdale Award for Portraiture
Oil on Linen
I was attending a Pain Psychologist in the hospital to see if I could enhance my pain management techniques. After six weeks of intense frankness, he explained that to continue the sessions would only help him develop his knowledge in pain strategies and would not help me.
When returning to my car, I had difficulty crossing the road because of the extreme pain level. The pain had taken a rare opportunity to consume me because of the disappointing news. Suddenly, a gentleman appeared. He had been deeply affected watching me struggle and came to help. He was a French chef and had set up home in Belfast, expecting his wife to join him. That day she decided not to follow his dream and didn’t arrive. We talked until I felt able to drive home.
Months later, I thought I was painting the Pain Psychologist, but I dropped my brush, astonished, when I realised that the French chef was appearing on the canvas.
I contacted hotels in Belfast and left my email address. Weeks later, I got a reply. He had gone home and was not in contact with his wife, ignoring her attempts to reach him. I suggested he should talk to her and explained the painting to him, which lifted his spirits. Weeks later, he contacted me again and explained that he had taken my advice and they were now happily back together.
The hot air floating behind illustrates the Pain Psychologist’s inability to help, and the gentleman depicted was The Samaritan.
I wanted the image to sympathetically connect with the depth of my pain in a very calming manner, and for the kindness in the eyes to reflect my faith in human nature. He does not want to connect with the viewer because he is not looking for the limelight. I did not want to put him front and centre because I wanted to depict a selfless image almost not wanting to appear on the canvas at all, therefore I sensitively placed him at the edge. He takes no care of his own appearance or wellbeing; his only purpose in life is to give to others.
I have even challenged the convention in the use of landscape canvases for portraiture to stretch our perception of normality. People with a disability are perceived to be different from the norm; however, for them it is their normal.
—
Original: SOLD
Framed Print: Available for Order