1934 – work in progress (42 cms x 60 cms charcoal and pastel 2017)
“Drawing…can get you through things. It’s like in an old Portuguese joke, in which a man is up a ladder painting a wall with a large brush. Another man comes along and wants the ladder, so he says to the first ‘Hold on tight to the brush, I’m just taking the ladder away…’ This is what drawing is like – it grounds you, it connects you so intensely to the paper, through the pencil or the nib or whatever you use, that it’s a lifeline when everything else is taken away. Things can go wrong, but if you just hang on tight to the paper and pen everything will be OK.”
Paula Rego, reported in Paula Rego by Fiona Bradley (Tate Publishing) p.42
A Certain Line 
Beautiful portrait. I like the quote too. I wish you well while holding on to your brush.
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Thank you, Jeanette! Much appreciated as always.
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It was a conversation with a best friend. Honestly? A conversation I don’t remember having. She said I told her “Just. Keep. Going.”
And so we do. The brush holders. We just keep going.
If I actually said that I must be absolutely brilliant.
Brilliant? No. Just The Reminder…..
Keep holding.
Keep going.
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Yes, indeed Raye. I love the idea that just by thinking you can hold on you can – without the ladder.
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All I can say is thank goodness for lifelines.
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Indeed!
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Ahhhh drawing ….. lovely
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Thank you so much, Rosie!
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It’s true though. I enter a sort of meditative state when I draw. Keeps me sane. Ish 😀
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Yes, absolutely. I think that’s how one can tell that it’s ‘working’.
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Wonderful delicate and intense portrait Michael, and those words are inspiring, the brush sure is a mighty thing, and when the ladder has been taken away in the past I’ve been glad the brush is there 😉
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Me too! Thanks very much, Phil.
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It’s a magic ladder, or maybe a magic brush…anyway, magic is definitely involved.
I like the intensity of that face. (K)
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Thank you, Kerfe.
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Whoops, pressed ‘send’ too soon. The magic is important, I think, and always worth seeking out.
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Such a beautiful portrait, Michael!
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Thank you so much, Jacob. Still working on it…
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It is magic, that a person can emerge from your pen or pencil or charcoal or paints, all the things I’ve seen you do, just magic. I marvel. And I love this portrait. Those eyes…
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Thank you, Claudia, your support and encouragement is greatly appreciated. I think this Paula Rego quote is so pertinent to what we’re all doing here, and I can’t resist a translated joke!
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I loved the image. Just holding on is really exactly right.
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This looks like a very tender portrait. Wonderful. 🙂
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Thank you, Rebecca, much appreciated as always.
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Lovely! And so true
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Thank you so much.
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What a beautiful portrait. Doing the things we love certainly grounds us, though personally I’d prefer not to be grounded by someone pulling the ladder away.
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Thank you so much – you’re probably right!
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That is a beautiful portrait – and the words are most definitely true. In good times the brush is a zen moment or three hours, and in bad times it turns into a lifeline. Thanks for posting this.
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Thank you, Eleanor. I couldn’t agree more.
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What a stunning face!
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Wow! Thanks ever so much, LuAnne.
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So true!
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