Fly Away (7.25" x 10", oil pastel, 2004) has never been publicly displayed until now.
On Monday, April 7, 2003, my father's life here ended while I was out walking my dog. I wondered if somehow he saw us as his soul was leaving, and maybe passed over us on his way to God.
The hydrangea series was already in progress at the time. One composition in particular kept speaking to me, so I did several versions; the image in Fly Away came to me after I'd done two or three others. It went really quickly, as if for once I knew exactly what I was supposed to do, and I finished it in about an hour. This is one painting that is definitely not about flowers.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
CHARLES W. STAFFORD
(OCTOBER 10, 1921 - APRIL 7, 2003)
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