| "Mother & Son" |
Original Photograph
Oil and Brian's Ashes on Canvas. 2006
| In Loving Memory of Brian Joiner who unfortunately died of cancer on July 25, 2005. |
Brian's mother, Maria, writes,
"The picture I sent you to immortalize
Brian was one taken years ago at his
Senior Prom. Brian was born
September 14, 1961. He died of
cancer July 25, 2005. Brian was a
natural artist and worked as a graphics
designer. He was such a visionary that
he frequently thought of, or drew
trends,before others made them
commercial. While Brian had little
formal art training he went to Spain in
1992 when the Olympics were held in
Barcelona and stayed there with friends
for a year studying and viewing art at
the museums and institutes there. He
had an artist's way of making life
beautiful...especially for me."
Brian was one taken years ago at his
Senior Prom. Brian was born
September 14, 1961. He died of
cancer July 25, 2005. Brian was a
natural artist and worked as a graphics
designer. He was such a visionary that
he frequently thought of, or drew
trends,before others made them
commercial. While Brian had little
formal art training he went to Spain in
1992 when the Olympics were held in
Barcelona and stayed there with friends
for a year studying and viewing art at
the museums and institutes there. He
had an artist's way of making life
beautiful...especially for me."
Copyright 2006. All rights reserved.
Dear Guy. I can't tell you how much your responses to me have meant. Thank you for understanding
what a hole I have in my body that used to be my heart. Brian would be overjoyed by your selection
as an artist to try this project. As for outfits and background, unfortunately Brian was the artist, with
an artistic visualization (similar to yourself). I would say, try the white tux. However, I will defer to
what you feel would work best. Thank you....
what a hole I have in my body that used to be my heart. Brian would be overjoyed by your selection
as an artist to try this project. As for outfits and background, unfortunately Brian was the artist, with
an artistic visualization (similar to yourself). I would say, try the white tux. However, I will defer to
what you feel would work best. Thank you....
Maria,
I didn't realize Brian had an artistic side, that's nice to know. Hopefully, this portrait can help fill
that hole in your heart just a little bit. I'll try the white tux--If it looks as though it's not working, it
should be relatively easy to go back and paint the darker tux.
I didn't realize Brian had an artistic side, that's nice to know. Hopefully, this portrait can help fill
that hole in your heart just a little bit. I'll try the white tux--If it looks as though it's not working, it
should be relatively easy to go back and paint the darker tux.
I am certain this painting will help fill the void. These kind and considerate emails from you have
helped as well. Yes...Brian was an artist. However, he worked as a graphic designer. This oil
painting is going in our dining room, opposite a framed piece of art that he did some years ago.
helped as well. Yes...Brian was an artist. However, he worked as a graphic designer. This oil
painting is going in our dining room, opposite a framed piece of art that he did some years ago.
Guy....I LOVE IT! Especially if you say the tones are lighter than it appears on the picture. I love
what you did with the background, with the rays and bursts of light. As for me, considering what
you had to work with, you did an excellent job of capturing me and my features. I am extremely
pleased. No one will look at the painting and not know that it is me. So, I think that it is a job well
done. THANK YOU!
what you did with the background, with the rays and bursts of light. As for me, considering what
you had to work with, you did an excellent job of capturing me and my features. I am extremely
pleased. No one will look at the painting and not know that it is me. So, I think that it is a job well
done. THANK YOU!
My mom, who had a stroke some time ago has been extremely weak and ill, and hospitalized for
over 2 weeks. She had successful bypass surgery this morning and I think part of what helped her
make it out of the operating room was the fact that I told her I had a surprise coming regarding
Brian sometime this month. I can hardly wait to be able to show the painting to her and the rest of
my family. Your theme works well. You are a magical artist. Again, thanks...I am looking forward
to the painting.
over 2 weeks. She had successful bypass surgery this morning and I think part of what helped her
make it out of the operating room was the fact that I told her I had a surprise coming regarding
Brian sometime this month. I can hardly wait to be able to show the painting to her and the rest of
my family. Your theme works well. You are a magical artist. Again, thanks...I am looking forward
to the painting.
Guy, I am overjoyed! Thank you so much. My mom was home from the hospital, so she was the
one waiting for the painting to be delivered. I didn't tell her what was being shipped. Then, my
husband and I arrived home around the same time. So, after I waited for my husband to change
clothes I opened the painting and he was absolutely amazed at the painting. I had only given him
snippets of having found an artist, and getting the painting done when I had him package the ashes
and send....so he was extremely surprised. I had never described the painting to him. We were all
choked up, with tears in our eyes. Then we walked to my mother's room carrying the painting
saying "Happy Mother's Day." Her eyes got SO wide. It was such a surprise. She started crying
so hard. Brian was her first grandchild and they had a very special relationship. When we lived in
California (before my mom's stroke) he used to send her several round trip tickets a year to come
out and visit us.
one waiting for the painting to be delivered. I didn't tell her what was being shipped. Then, my
husband and I arrived home around the same time. So, after I waited for my husband to change
clothes I opened the painting and he was absolutely amazed at the painting. I had only given him
snippets of having found an artist, and getting the painting done when I had him package the ashes
and send....so he was extremely surprised. I had never described the painting to him. We were all
choked up, with tears in our eyes. Then we walked to my mother's room carrying the painting
saying "Happy Mother's Day." Her eyes got SO wide. It was such a surprise. She started crying
so hard. Brian was her first grandchild and they had a very special relationship. When we lived in
California (before my mom's stroke) he used to send her several round trip tickets a year to come
out and visit us.
Anyway, she was crying so hard that my husband and I started crying again. Then I told her this
painting has Brian's ashes woven in the way he had wanted me to do....and the floodgates opened
for all of us. My mother and I were overwhelmed with heavy choking sounds. You really are the
instrument that enabled me to carry out my son's last wish. Many years ago, the first time he told
me he wanted to be cremated, he told me not to grieve, just to put some of his ashes in a painting
that I would like to keep forever. That way he would really remain a part of our lives for as long as
we lived.
painting has Brian's ashes woven in the way he had wanted me to do....and the floodgates opened
for all of us. My mother and I were overwhelmed with heavy choking sounds. You really are the
instrument that enabled me to carry out my son's last wish. Many years ago, the first time he told
me he wanted to be cremated, he told me not to grieve, just to put some of his ashes in a painting
that I would like to keep forever. That way he would really remain a part of our lives for as long as
we lived.
We hung the painting in the dining room. Everyone that comes in the house goes through the dining
room to get to the kitchen, the deck and outside, or to go downstairs to the family room. A perfect
spot for everyone to see and admire the painting. Already we see the effect of Brian's eyes in the
painting. They appear to be looking at you no matter where you are in the room. My mother got on
one side of the room. I got on the opposite side. And, my husband was at a different angle in the
room, and EACH of us felt as though he was looking just at that one individual!
room to get to the kitchen, the deck and outside, or to go downstairs to the family room. A perfect
spot for everyone to see and admire the painting. Already we see the effect of Brian's eyes in the
painting. They appear to be looking at you no matter where you are in the room. My mother got on
one side of the room. I got on the opposite side. And, my husband was at a different angle in the
room, and EACH of us felt as though he was looking just at that one individual!
As always, the letter you sent was so typical of all of your warm and sensitive correspondence. I
would LOVE for you to put a photo of Brian's painting on your website. I am honored that you
would like to. Since I will never be blessed with grandchildren, you will single handedly help Brian
live on in constant memory for those of us who loved him so dearly.
would LOVE for you to put a photo of Brian's painting on your website. I am honored that you
would like to. Since I will never be blessed with grandchildren, you will single handedly help Brian
live on in constant memory for those of us who loved him so dearly.
Part of Brian's ceremony was my putting together a journal for him when he died. Family and
friends wrote about the times and memories they had of Brian, and what Brian meant to them. The
journal contains all of the cards we received, petals from the flowers, and even some feathers from
the doves that were released at his ceremony. Now, naturally, his journal contains every email you
sent to me. Tonight I will also put in this last letter.
friends wrote about the times and memories they had of Brian, and what Brian meant to them. The
journal contains all of the cards we received, petals from the flowers, and even some feathers from
the doves that were released at his ceremony. Now, naturally, his journal contains every email you
sent to me. Tonight I will also put in this last letter.
You are a great artist and sensitive man. The kind of soul that we hope all artists are. I am pleased
that we were able to give you the kind of admiration you and your work deserves. You and your
rendition of Brian and I has certainly brought joy to our lives. Ironically, many times when Brian
was out in public (i.e. commuting by BART in California, or the MARC train from our home to
Washington, DC, agents for modeling firms did approach Brian to join their modeling agencies. He
was also a track and field star, with many medals and trophies.) I guess, even though his life
seemed much too short, he had many moments of joy and adulation from others.
that we were able to give you the kind of admiration you and your work deserves. You and your
rendition of Brian and I has certainly brought joy to our lives. Ironically, many times when Brian
was out in public (i.e. commuting by BART in California, or the MARC train from our home to
Washington, DC, agents for modeling firms did approach Brian to join their modeling agencies. He
was also a track and field star, with many medals and trophies.) I guess, even though his life
seemed much too short, he had many moments of joy and adulation from others.
I am from a very large Catholic family. Ten siblings. Several years ago there was an outbreak of
cancer among Brian and the younger siblings in my family. Mainly starting out with colon cancer.
One sister died at 39, leaving her 3 girls and one granddaughter. Two other siblings and a young
teenage niece have undergone chemo and radiation treatment for several years, one after another.
They lived. Brian died.
cancer among Brian and the younger siblings in my family. Mainly starting out with colon cancer.
One sister died at 39, leaving her 3 girls and one granddaughter. Two other siblings and a young
teenage niece have undergone chemo and radiation treatment for several years, one after another.
They lived. Brian died.
I am the only sibling that had just one child. My sister Bunny is the only sibling that died. Ironically,
I am now kind of surrogate mother and grandmother to them. One never knows what life has in
store for you. I thought I had always wanted a daughter...and for a while I had 10 girls living with
me that I had to take to school each day to 3 different cities, BEFORE I went to work each day,
while their parents were fighting cancer. Brian's support during that time was invaluable. Now,
thank God except for the one sister and Brian, they are all well.
I am now kind of surrogate mother and grandmother to them. One never knows what life has in
store for you. I thought I had always wanted a daughter...and for a while I had 10 girls living with
me that I had to take to school each day to 3 different cities, BEFORE I went to work each day,
while their parents were fighting cancer. Brian's support during that time was invaluable. Now,
thank God except for the one sister and Brian, they are all well.
My interaction with you over these past weeks has been a wonderful experience. One that I will
treasure. Thanks again...
treasure. Thanks again...
Brian Joiner
1961 - 2005
| To Get Back to the SAMPLES page, use your Browser's Back Button or Click here. |