Mother

Oil on canvas panel, 14" x 11"
The Painting of My Mother,
Eileen Ades Forrest
(Jan. 7th, 1925 - Nov. 20th, 2010)

The first day I learned of my Mother’s illness, I happened to be looking at the painting I did of her when the eyes shined at me. Perhaps it was an energy that came out of them, as though her spirit was in the painting. It stopped me and I smiled. The next thing: the phone rang; a doctor at the hospital told me of my Mother’s condition: she might not make it. I jumped in my car and drove north a few hours to be at her side. She recovered, but was still in serious condition.

I returned home. The next week, as I walked past her painting, again the eyes shined out at me. Oh no--I thought, the phone will ring. An hour later, my Father called, “Can you come? She isn’t expected to last more than a few hours.” I came.

I stood next to my Mother’s bed in the hospital holding her hand. Her eyes were closed, an oxygen mask covered her mouth, she seemed unconscious. I leaned forward and gentle tears rolled down my cheeks as I spoke into her ear “Mom, its Brian. My voice is gone because of a bad cold, but I’m here. You communicated to me again through your painting. You were looking right at me Mom, as though you were there with me. Your eyes twinkled Mom.” She rose up in the bed, arching her back, her arm tried to reach out to respond. She had heard me. “I love you Mom..I love you...Dad and I are going to go home to rest, but we will be back tomorrow, I love you Mom.” Early the next morning at 4:05 am my Mother passed on.

I will always treasure the memory of my Mother and my painting of her.

--Brian Forrest