Marney, Paula and Rae

This painting of Marney Paula and Rae, is my way of dealing with Marney not being here any more.
Being a tree surgeon, and a man who would only cut a tree if it needed it, or reduce it in a way that kept the
tree's beautiful shape. He would never cut the side off a tree to benefit a neighbour, much to their fury!
Trees were his way of life and he has their leaves in his pocket. The oak leaves surround his left leg,
the tumour barely visibe in his black sock behind his big toe.  
This painting is about nature taking back the man it once produced. The Oak tree is hugging him, it has 7
roots as he had 7 descendants Danel, Jessica, Jenny, Betty, Odain, Rothko and Rae.
Paula is holding Rae, as a direct metaphor, she is left to care for their grandchildren without him.
With the glow from his shirt, his presence in her and grandchildren's lives, she is looking into the future, the strong Irish woman that she is.