My Grandad was by far one of my biggest influences on my art life. From a young age I can remember drawing random objects with him in our living room with nothing but a cheap drawing pad and a blue biro. In my older years I remember having advise and proportion tips on my first few portraits I also still remember him drawing a poo on our black board.

 

My grandad was the first person I lost who was close to me and he was also a very important member of the family. I want others and I to remember him through my art. The only physical things I have of him are few photographs, a blanket knitted in the colours of his favorite football team that he kept on the back of his chair and now this painting.

 

He had what I hate to think was a slow death. Every week passing was agony, maybe not just for him but for my family. I can't imagine the thoughts of my father had. Towards the end, I managed to fit in many treasured moments.

 

July 2016 he sadly passed away from Parkinson's disease which is a long-term disorder that affects the central nervous system. The cause is unknown, so now it is to be thought as something inherited through genetics and environment.

 

I decided to make a proper tribute to him with my newly learned art skills with oil paint, I didn't want to make this painting a historical style, I simply attempted to recreate a photograph with a simple blocked out background. I could hear him yelling in my head why I did this picture.