Hello Friends!

I kept these pages pretty simple. I used sponges to dip into acrylic inks for the design on the left page and around the portrait of Vincent’s mother, Anna Carbentus van Gogh, on the right page. Then I embellished her portrait with some darker colored inks. I didn’t want to alter it very much, though.

Vincent painted this portrait of his mother while living in Arles, in 1888. In a book I have by Barrington Barber called Through the Eyes of Vincent Van Gogh, Revealing the Genius of the Great Master, it is stated on page 64, 

“The portrait of Van Gogh’s mother was made from a small black and white photograph of her. He wrote at the time, ‘I am working on a portrait of Mother. Because the black and white photograph annoys me so. Ah. What portraits could be made from nature with photography and painting. I always hope that we are still to have a great revolution in portraiture.”

I really love this portrait of Vincent’s mother. But I don’t know what his relationship with her was like. He seems to have had a real love and respect for his parents even though they didn’t understand his NEED to become an artist after he felt like a failure in his attempt to become a priest like his father and grandfather. 

I admire him for living out his dream. He may have never monetarily profited from his work, but he left a huge legacy of courage, determination, and love through all of his beautiful drawings, paintings, and writing. 

Have a wonderful day! 🙂