I was visiting my mother who will be 98 this September. On her wall is this pastel pencil portrait of my father, Ernest Alfred Klossner, done by an unknown artist in 1942 while Daddy was in the Army during WWII. He has been gone from our lives now for 20 years, yet daily this piece of art reminds my mother of her young, handsome husband serving in a long war. The time away from him now is also long, but at least she has this portrait. She knows that some artist sat near her Ernie, closely examined his face, profile and features, and very intimately captured him on a piece of paper. This portrait is more real to her than any photograph could be. People ask me why I draw people all of the time? On the bus? In church? In the chiropractor’s office? In restaurants? Because by drawing them, I come to really see them. When I see people, really see them, I feel I know them all that much better. Who knows. One of my drawings may someday be an important reminder to someone of a long ago love.
RSS Feed
