Mother’s Darts

2008

36" X 24"

Oil on Panel

SOLD

Laying bear a truth,
which I suspect is universal,
that those apron strings are sharpened daily.

But my favorite part of this painting is the memory of Herself and myself during the modeling session.
It was mid-day in the studio so absolutely anyone could have walked in…
and it was hot so that little blue house dress was all we had on …
and we were sharing that between us because I had some idea that it had to be my hands.
My body however, which is the size of a house, has not been seen in a dress of any kind
since the high school Girls Athletic Associations teas. So after lighting and photographing Miss Pat,
and rigging the oven mitt to catch the dart in mid-flight, it was my turn to put on the frock.
Dumpy ol’ short waisted me just couldn’t pull off the look … and my hands were all wrong too…
but it was the hysterical fits of laughter from the other model
doubled up in her skivvies behind the camera
that lives on in the retelling.
The best parts of our almost twenty years together are always knee deep in loving laughter.
Keeping me safe, humble and honest,
my love, my light,
my knight in shining red oven mitt…
consider yourself.