Painting a Memorial Portrait
Losing a loved one leaves a void that words often struggle to fill. As I grappled with the recent passing of my grandma, I found solace in painting. In an effort to remember her and the impact she had on me, I picked up the brush for my first oil portrait.
The Process
This portrait was created as part of my Painting I class this semester. This class has been my first venture into oil painting, and it’s been a lot of fun to delve into. As I was given the assignment to create a portrait, I knew who the perfect subject would be. My grandma passed away this October and dealing with her loss had been very difficult. She was such an awesome woman and there was no better person to be the subject of my first ever oil portrait.
As I delved into the details of her face, memories of shared laughter and the lines etched by a lifetime of stories began to unfold on the canvas. Every stroke brought back memories of our time spent together, and the process of painting her was very therapeutic to me. The oil allowed me to spend my time creating it, and with each day that I spent painting her, I was able to reflect on her life and heal more and more each day.
I worked hard to capture each detail of her face to make the portrait as accurate as possible and did my best to create a painting that felt just as full of life as she was, adding a bright green gradient in the background. I wanted the portrait to be a celebration of her rather than something to be sad about as I looked at it.
Reflecting
The completion of the oil painting marked not just an artistic achievement but a cathartic release. The portrait, now a tangible representation of love and loss, will be something I always have to look back on. It is a daily reminder that though she may no longer be physically present, her spirit lives on and will be with me always.
To Nani: I will miss you a lot but know that your memory will stay with me forever. I hope that you are having a blast with Pepa, and that wherever you are you’re happy. I will keep you in my heart forever.