This painting is one of my particular favourites.
It was a special commission piece, in memory of an angel baby. For anyone who is not familiar with the term, angel babies refer to babies who are born sleeping (stillborn), or lost in miscarriage. It is usually a heartbreaking time for parents and I am very honoured to have been asked to paint a piece for a mother working through her grief.
There were particular elements that I was asked to include so that the piece would be more personal, and this is often a request when I am doing commissions.
I wanted a painting that was uplifting, as well as commemorative, and would also harbour certain meanings that only the original recipient of the painting would understand.
I was very pleased when the idea for a little angel person riding on a large soaring bird came into my mind, and soon set about putting it onto canvas. The name of the artwork also came suddenly into my mind. You know, how things suddenly click into place sometimes?
A Bud That Never Bloomed
My dear little baby,
That once inside me grew,
I'm so unbearably saddened that,
I'll never get to meet you.
I will never be able to
Watch you sprout and grow,
and bloom into the person
That I wanted so much to know.
So for now I'll tend your memory,
Water it with tenderness, feed it with love,
And one day I'll see you blossom
When we meet in Heaven above.
- Anon -
