Fatherly Guidance

Joy writes that the father of this young chap stood behind her and gave her help in getting the features just right for which she was very grateful. Knowing Joy’s character I wondered if this was a bit of tongue in cheek good humour but I suppose I won’t ever know. The chaps wife has been rendered skillfully with Joy’s characteristic smoothing brushstrokes. We haven’t seen a lot of hands in these portrait studies so this piece is a chance to celebrate the treatment shown here with the most natural representation of expressive pose, secure and restful on the mother’s part, and somewhat excited by the little fellow, and overall rounding-out feeling of happiness and contentment.