This portrait is dedicated to
the music of Queen
and the memory of Freddie Mercury,
who was a true artist
Text Messages:
July 7 A shout out :-0! to let u know i started your portrait. Has taken
on this religious, mysterious quality of a Renaissance Madonna. A sort of
'Bohemian Rhapsody', or 'Behind Blue Eyes'
[Okay now i am very very excited! Sending lots of zen vibes & harmonious
flows to you :-)]
July 14 This smooth hot press paper is a bit challenging to work on, but
your portraits still sailing along nicely. Should finish on the weekend, but i'll
text u the minute its finished!!
Hope u found a nice cool spot to relax! lol
[I'm very excited to see it :-) hope you are cool too!]
July 17 Hi Fran, looks like your portrait will be finished this afternoon! :-D
Would luv if u could see it tomorrow or sat!
[Omg i'm so excited! How about Sat @ noon?]
Awesome! See u then!! :-D
[I can't wait :-D have a truly awesome day!]
July 19 [Richard that painting is utterly amazing! My Dad thinks its just
incredible!]
Thank u so much! I'm totally thrilled!! Hope he can see the original one day! If
u ever want to borrow it...
July 20 [Richard I cannot get over your masterpiece! Everybody loves it :-)
my Sisters think its divine!]
Thanks to U! Your pose was sublime! :-0
3rd (Thursday)
Photographing Fran in the lane beside
St Paul's, & then on Arthur Erikson's
steps, beside the McMillan-Bloedel
bldg. Told her I was 'photographing
my favourite model beside my favourite
building.' Every time we meet feel a
little closer to her. Stretched paper
for the portrait. Overcast, & a little
muggy, but cooling off in the
afternoon
4th (Friday)
Talking to Myle on the phone for an
hour this afternoon. Overcast, cool,
with the lightest sprinkle of rain
5th (Saturday)
Met Fran at Subway at noon. Describing
to her how well the photos turned out
Everytime we meet we learn more about
each other, & feel a little closer
talking in the midst of a heavy summer
rain
7th (Monday) [Portrait of Fran Atherton]
Fairly hot, with a nice cool breeze in
the shade
8th (Tuesday) [Portrait of Fran Atherton]
Talking to Myle on the phone, when
Germany scored its first of 7 goals
against Brazil
9th (Wednesday) [Portrait of Fran Atherton]
Talking Canucks, World Cup, & our latest
artistic projects with Reanne this morning
Erlly describing her visit to Alberta,
which included a visit to Jasper & certain
icefields somewhere. Myle texted pics of
her wall-painting, & then called to ask
what I thought of it. Fran came over
tonight to watch 'Zelig'
10th (Thursday) [Portrait of Fran Atherton]
Text from Fran, 'Of course i wanna see it
I'm so excited!'
11th (Friday) [Portrait of Fran Atherton]
Myle texted a photo of her hand, which
became bruised after acupuncture treatment
'How does it look,' she asked. Burning hot
sun on Burrard this afternoon
12th (Saturday) [Portrait of Fran Atherton]
13th (Sunday) [Portrait of Fran Atherton]
World Cup Final this afternoon, Germany 1/
Argentina 0. Lovely images of the statue
on Sugarloaf Mtn, with the beaches, the
stadium, & the city of Rio spread out below
Sultry, sticky weather continues, felt like
the hottest day of the year
14th (Monday) [Portrait of Fran Atherton]
Pleasant chat with Grace Chin about the gruesome
heat. She likes it, she said
15th (Tuesday) [Portrait of Fran Atherton]
A little cooler this morning. Text from Myle,
who is installing a laminate floor. Aarathi
explaining the cricket phrase, 'They're
declaring.'
16th (Wednesday) [Portrait of Fran Atherton]
Texted Myle in the morning, & Eve, on her
birthday, this afternoon. Heat wave continues
17th (Thursday) [Portrait of Fran Atherton]
Texted Fran that the portrait would be finished
this afternoon. 'Omg im so excited! How about
Sat @ noon?' Returning from Metrotown on
Skytrain, texted Myle that Bianca had bought an
ice cream making machine! :( Texted back later
in the evening, 'Oh dear' & 'Heading to wedding'
18th (Friday)
Working on webpage for the portrait
19th (Saturday)
Fran totally enamoured of the drawing. It
could not have gone better. Told me, as
we're walking along Davie, that her father was
a huge fan of Queen, & Freddie Mercury, which
was yet another 'coincidence'. Texted awhile
after leaving, 'Richard that painting is
utterly amazing! My dad thinks it's just
incredible!' A nice shower of rain this
morning
20th (Sunday)
Text from Fran at 10am: 'Richard I cannot get
over your masterpiece! Everybody loves it :)
My sisters think it's divine.' Kana wearing
black frame 'Woody Allen' glasses. Has no
idea who he is, but does know who Queen were
She was really quite charming, showing some
concern when I told her my knee was bothering
me. Met Eve & her boyfriend on Robson, & had
a pleasant conversation. She's leaving for
Edmonton on Tuesday. British Open this
morning, won by McIlroy
23rd (Wednesday)
Exchanging texts with Fran & Aarathi, moving
closer to the photo shoots for the large
drawings. Uploading webpages, reorganizing &
deleting files all afternoon. Overcast,
light rain off & on all day
24th (Thursday)
Met Fran at Subway at noon to give her the
prints of the portrait. Made a date for
Tuesday to take the first session shots for
'The Crucifixtion of Fertility', & had a
good discussion about the theme of the
drawing & what she would wear, etc
Described a dream she had about a priest
that bit off the head of a goldfish, &
the inside was 'like an orange.' Myle
called early this morning describing how
she was painting & cleaning the downstairs
suites, & how tired she was. Good research
for the drawing this afternoon & evening
Overcast, cool, with some rain
