About a Boy. Portrait of Solomon

​In August 2022, my daughter, grandkids, and I went to the homeschool markets and a friend, Angela, gave Solomon (9) a ukulele to do some busking. 
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Solomon had never had a music or singing lesson, but he did it anyway. He spent the next two hours making up songs and strumming strings. Every time he ran out of customers he picked a new spot in the park. Two friends joined him with tambourines and that formed a band. Another friend came along to manage them and became the band manager. Two hours later they’d raised 50 bucks and they got $10 each. 

I thought, wow, we have to get this kid into music so I looked around for a music teacher and Solomon began learning the ukulele. ​

Music Teacher
Lachlan Stewart

Music Teacher
Lachlan Stewart

Montessori Teacher
Angela Christine Jasmine

As I watched Solomon in his lessons, I thought about how many years and decades we put into perfecting our craft. Artists, musicians, dancers, writers, all the arts. And I thought about how we honour the artist after they’ve spend these years in practise, and I decided to honour the musician and the boy at the beginning of his journey.
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​So I began to create some sketches and compositions. 

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I painted for months, in between some other studies. I struggled, the face was not right, the hands were too big, the colour, the tone. I almost gave up.

Eventually, I decided to stop, and let go, and say it was done. 

I want to tell you why I've done what I've done. What about the dog, the fishing pole and the feelings behind each mark? But, I want you to feel it in your heart, the meanings and the nuances about this boy, about all boys and their ways of being in the world. 

Mostly, I am hoping you will remember how much you love your boys, our men, and honour the journey of the miles and years of care and trust it takes for them to reach their heights and full potential. 

The Painting Reveal at Loft Gallery, Redcliffe.

Thank you for sharing my journey with me. Monica