Paintings that Express Emotion

Over a period of about seven years I worked as a certified nursing assistant, occupational therapy aide and activity director in nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. I worked very closely with residents and become good friends with many of them. I felt as though I had many grandparents to take care of and talk to.

Ray and I became friends from the first time I met him because we shared a common soft drink. Pepsi! Yep, we both liked to drink Pepsi and the vending machine in the staff break room was well supplied. At only a fifty cents a can, it was a great deal. We'd pool our money and head down the hall for our cans of soda. We'd usually drink it in the dining area or in his room by the window and chat.

During one of our Pepsi breaks I'd taken a black and white photograph of Ray. Several years later and a move cross country I found the photo in a box and decided to do an oil painting of it.

To start the painting I did a pencil sketch using the photograph as a guide. I decided to use a dark palette of layered deep greens, blues, yellows, reds, purples and browns. I've always been drawn to the "Potato Eaters" by Van Gogh with its dark quality and reflected light on the faces of those gathered around the table. I wanted to try creating a painting that was primarily dark and bring light into it sparingly. I believe Ray would have been pleased with the final painting, and I can picture us toasting it with a Pepsi!