Capturing memories.

Dad & I Figueres 2012

DO NOT STAND AT MY GRAVE & WEEP
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.
(Anon) 

Pencil in A5 sketchbook.

On January 12th I flew to UK and on arrival discovered that dad was in hospital. When I got to the ward in the afternoon he was unconscious and never regained consciousness. He died peacefully ten days later.
From the 23rd, whilst staying in his house, I found comfort through sketching. I tried to record details of dad that would be lost in a photo, but are the little things that show his everyday life.

Dad stopped smoking when he was 60, but kept the ashtray as it was given to him by his mother-in-law (my nan). Unlike the stereotype, they had a very good relationship.

I never understood how dad could get his dictionaries and encyclopedias in such a tatty condition. I guess putting them back to front on the shelf didn't help.

When I went to the hospital for the doctor's certificate, I was given dad's things. The following day, I drew his wedding ring, watch and glasses before giving them to mum.

Then, I drew his cufflink box, which contained another watch, minus strap, and his hearing aid - I'd wondered where it was.

Dad loved hats, and throughout the house there are caps, trilbies, straw hats and others. I struggled to sketch over the days after his funeral and this hasn't come out as I wanted, the cold hallway didn't help, but it does show some of dad's many hats.

An in situ shot.

Dad & I in Barcelona 2012

 Rest in Peace dad. Christopher Pownall 1.1.1931 - 22.1.2014

"Is that supposed to be me?"

As many of your know, I battled with EDM challenge 20 in order to do a portrait for my dad. The result is here.
I returned to UK for the summer yesterday and gave it to him. The response was:

"Is that supposed to be me?"

I guess that puts me in my place. I doubt I will do another portrait of someone I know again.

Happy Father's Day: Essence of Dad

It still isn't a good likeness, which I wish it was as I love him and would have liked it to be, but I hope dad will be pleased I tried to capture him. In some ways, the very first sketch, whilst looking nothing like him, captured his spirit the best. oh well.

Since starting this blog, I have been using more and more pencil. I still think I work best in pen & ink, but it has been good to push myself by using it. I started with a 2B mechanical pencil and finished with a 5B Daler Rowney one. Below are the stages:

First picture, for EDiM back on 20th May. 

 Restarted 15th June with Jay Leno's chin.

Getting there, early this Friday morning.

My reference photo. 

EDM - #20 version 3 - restarted

It's a few days away from Father's day (UK) and I thought it was time to continue my portrait. Nelson I can capture in a few lines, whereas dad - I get too tight to draw. On the original drawing I have redone the eyes (thrice), and totally redrawn the jaw and chin (too many times to count), but it still is not working. Consequently, this evening I restarted, larger, and it's still not working BAH! Again, it's the jaw/chin part that is off. In the original it was too narrow and small, now I have over-compensated and it looks like Jay Leno's chin. Time to get out the rubber again!

EDiM - #20 Dad: a start

Challenge number 20 is draw something "dad" in honor of Father's Day. Father's Day in the UK is 20th June this year, so this is a month early. I think this will take until then for me to be happy with it.

btw The dark mark on Nelson's eye is a bit of putty rubber oops

I'm a day behind on the challenges, today is the 21st, but as Friday is the weekend here, I hope to catch up later, so please pop back, if you can, to see my progress. Also, check the others participating in EDiM.