“Nous Deux” No.1 The New Path

Description

“Nous Deux” (Us Two) oil on canvas, 40x30cm  July 2022. The first painting in the series “The New Path. After Renée passed on in October 2021, we went through her art portfolios finding sketches, drawings, unfinished water colours and some original oil paintings.  I came across a sketch, which really spoke to me. I have kept the original. I loved the sketch, and wondered its source or inspiration. On finding it, my immediate thought was “I could paint my impression of her sketch in oils”.  This was the beginning of my “model of mourning” (external)  which allows the process of my grief (internal) to be externalized through my painting.  Mama Renée’s sketch and the painting here, began the process of my desire to develop my own unique, artistic style. I see this now being conferred upon me.  Equally or more importantly even, is the inner process of grief, the one which takes me to a deep, hollow place within, from where the thoughts, feelings, emotions are transmuted into a new painting.  Thus a synergy with the internal grief and the external model of mourning. “Models of Mourning”, can be any externalized project, a creation, a painting, a piece of music, writing or poetry. Anything – planting a garden, walking the Camino – as so many do.