Lilly In White
This portrait of my granddaughter, Lilly, is an investment in the future of creating tomorrow's family heirlooms. It is painted in acrylics on 20" x30" canvas using standard procedures for acrylic painting. Lilly is painted in a white dress which is of particular interest because of the originality in the treatment of the white. It is not a stark white, but only appears to be white, rich in many other colors like purples, pinks, blues in the shadows and yellows and some pink in the highlights. The textured treatment of the collar falls over the gathers of the dress. Originality of texture is important in this painting, although subtle, as seen in the details of the lace, the see-through organza, the lace hem, the pearls, the sparkly red shoes, the rug, and the over one hundred and fifty year old armoire. The brush stokes are loose, but the painting is precise in it's structural design. The uniqueness of this design is shown by the parallel and straight lines of the dark mahogany armoire and brown rug floor framing the organic and alive little girl. The straight and parallel lines contrast with the roundness of her pink halo, curved hair, puffy sleeves, flowing dress, rounded hands, and rounded shoes. The canvas glows with light and color in contrast to the brown rug and armoire. The halo is rich pink, Lilly's favorite color around her face. The painting shows Lilly's personality and a little girl's love of clothes and jewelry.
Children are our future. They carry on the traditions and dreams of the family. We invest our love, learning, and faith in them. They grow up to become our future. This is what we see studying genealogy. Investing in a child is an investment in our family and in future generations. This painting of Lilly will become a family heirloom for my son, Brian, and his wife, Jeannie, their daughter, Lilly, and for Lilly's children and grandchildren. Art, unless tragedy of some kind like fire, theft, or other unforeseen damage occurs, lasts for generations, a proud heirloom and a reminder of one's heritage