Associate Artist Denise Findlay has recently donated paintings to two public events. One is for the Princes Trust and the other to support the recent hurricane disaster in the British Virgin Isles. She describes the meaning of the paintings to us at Unison Colour.
“Lovelock” is a pastel painting which is a memorial piece to the artist and embroiderer Jessie (Rowat) Newbery. She was my great, great grandmother, artist and wife of Fra Newbery. It has been suggested that she was the “originator” of the Glasgow Rose motif through her appliqué technique she used and taught.
I used my daughter, Mia, as my model. It seemed fitting that she was my choice to wear the stunning printed dress. She holds a lock of her hair which is symbolic of devotion.
I am donating this portrait to raise money for the recent hurricane disaster in the British Virgin Islands.
“Woven” is a memorial piece to remind us the value of relationships and those things we can take for granted.
The hair tied back in a hair net is a symbol of a knitting together and a close bond. The model being my daughter reiterates this. It’s a reminder that in our pursuit of happiness, relationships are the primarily the most important thing in life. We can lose possessions, homes and businesses but all these things can be rebuilt.
Relationships and people once lost are irreplaceable.
Denise Findlay
