Lily

Remember the COVID-19 lockdowns? In one of my walks in the neighbourhood, I saw a fallen birch tree covered in Elkhorn ferns in someone’s front yard, I wondered if the owner still wanted it? This is when I met Lily for the first time, she was standing in her front porch wearing a smile that beaming with warmth and kindness. While maintaining social distancing, I told Lily that I’d like to buy the ferns but she generously asked me to take them for free! I gladly did so but offered to paint her a portrait in return. I would have love to paint Lily in life if not because of the pandemic. Instead, Karene, Lily’s granddaughter, sent me a few reference photographs. This is the first portrait I painted exclusively with painting knives. I painted feverishly till the wee hours and at one point, I felt that I’ve captured something in the painting. I stood there and cried… may be Lily reminded me of my own grandmother. Lily and Karene kindly invited me into their home when I delivered the painting and this is when I found out that Lily is an artist too! I remember the delicately painted horses on her wall. Sadly, Lily passed away 8 months later. The Elkhorn ferns still flourish on my balcony.