Doris

This is a painting I did a couple years ago of one of the dearest people in my life and on the earth. Doris practically raised my brothers and I alongside my mom. In the Philippines everyone - but Everyone! - has a maid. Even maids have maids. Doris has been in our family longer than I have, and I love her like nobody's business. I painted her smiling that smile of hers, so full of wisdom and joy, and spotlit her engagement ring.

Doris was engaged when she was in her mid-twenties to her first love in a tiny fishing village in Bicol Province. He died of a heart attack a couple of weeks before their marriage date, leaving her with his unborn child. She still keeps the ring on and has never remarried. When I gutsied up to ask her about it once, she just smiled and said, "I'm waiting for my marriage in heaven, Daniel." Words cheapen that kind of love. Hopefully a painting achieves it better.

It's my only wipeout I've ever done, I found this beautiful color in oils and slung it all over a gesso'd board, then did the painting with thinner, a rag, my fingernails, and a q-tip.