Models of kindness

Before the Dance
(the first image)
6' x 4'
acrylic on canvas

One of my favorite models is Claudia. She has always been
beautiful, and at 19 is self assured and growing up quickly.
As a model Claudia is perfect, reliably on time, kind and
cooperative. Her face is almost iconic in my work.
She is one of the faces in my largest painting 6' x 4', that hangs
in the administration offices at Seneca College where I teach.
The other girl is Solanna, my friend, Carolee's daughter.
Solanna is another amazing young person. She's now in
second year university here in Toronto.

Claudia
At the Dance
7" x 9"
acrylic on canvas

Claudia is the face on the sign I put on my lawn each year when I
open my studio for the St. Clair Artwalk. She is kind,
funny, intelligent, and now as a girl taking a year off to
work before going to university -- very business like.

One of the great joys in my life has been watching my children,
and my friends and neighbours' children grow into exciting
young adults. Their talent and generosity, energy and
incisive wit make any time spent with them a complete
pleasure.

I'm taking off tonight to see the movie Happy Go Lucky,
with Sally Hawkins. It looks exactly right for a
Saturday night.

Detail showing Claudia's face in
the first Before the Dance painting

Have a loving-the-people-and-animals-in-your-life day.