1985. Acrylic. 8×10. Artist: Rebekah Robson. 2016.
Bruce Charles Wilson was born June 28, 1985. I don’t remember much about him at that time, but his birth brought me the greatest gift of all: a plastic charm bracelet (you 80’s girls know what I’m talking about).
I painted this entire piece upside down to try to focus on shapes and colors vs face/hand/eye etc.
I must have felt an intense responsibility for Bruce, though. The first dream I can remember occurred during that time. I’m carrying him and I discover he has a fatal shrinking disease. Soon, he can fit in palm of my hand and I have to keep him in a plastic bag to protect him. I still feel a little scared and frantic when I think about that nightmare.
This is my favorite part of the whole painting. I could look at this for days.
Deborah, my younger sister, also wanted to protect our new baby. She turned his bassinet over once while trying to comfort his cries.
Deborah’s face was the most difficult part for me. I’m not even sure why. But I loved the end result so much.
One day, Bruce would grow into a little boy with crazy-curly hair and permanent coating of dirt, but those stories are for another time.
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To learn more about Bruce, the full-grown chef, visit his food truck page on Facebook.
This is my first attempt at a gif. It doesn’t appear to be playing. Please enjoy this still frame of the original sketch while I sort out my technical difficulties.
