Charlie's Portrait 16 x 20

My dear friend and pastor, Charlie Woodman is going through his second bout with cancer, and getting chemo every other week in Boston. He remains positive and hopeful, but it's pretty scary. For Christmas, my gift to him was an afternoon doing whatever he wanted to do - most likely something his family wasn't interested in doing. I expected him to want to do something fun and crazy like going to NYC for a cup of coffee or something, but instead, he wanted to watch me paint. He said the creative process intrigued him. I'm not sure why - as he is very creative in his own right. Anyway, we decided I would paint his portrait. I did most of the work after he left, but we discussed how he wanted to be portrayed, and took some photos, and I sketched the portrait on the canvas before he left. I thought maybe he would want it done in his doctoral robe, but instead, he wanted something that represented his life's mission, which was inclusiveness. We tried to figure out what that would look like. We started with a welcoming wave, but ended up with a raised wine glass. We have this thing we call Spirit Thursdays - where we gather at my house after choir practice, and share some spirits - both the liquid kind, and the spiritual kind. It's a fabulous group of people where everyone is loved unconditionally, and everyone is welcome. So the wine glass seemed fitting. It was quite intimidating to do this portrait - but I think it came out well. I put lots of love into the painting, and with every stroke, sent healing thoughts to Charlie. I have another portrait I've been trying to do for two years of a friend who passed away suddenly, and I just haven't been able to do it. Maybe now I'll have the courage to put that on canvas as well.

Rev. Dr. Charles Woodman - 16 x 20