Johanna

This is Johanna. When I first met her, about 13 years ago, I was working for her ex-husband in his architectural practice and our sons were going to Montessori school together. My son was three and their son was five so they weren't in the same classes but it's a small school and all the children and parents all get to know each other.

A couple of years ago I learned that her son had cancer. One of the hardest things to go through in life is losing a loved one to a disease that slowly takes them away from you. I lost my mother to cancer 7 years ago - it is hard and it hurts. A lot.

In June last year, her son died. He was 18. I don't have words for this. It simply breaks your heart and you must move on. If you are strong and wise, you find gratitude for that life and that their life was and will always be a part of you.

That is what Johanna is doing and that is what this portrait is about.

18x15 watercolor, ink and pencil. #163