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Published: 2009-06-01 03:38:02 +0000 UTC; Views: 2195; Favourites: 27; Downloads: 76
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Oil on linen 1650mm x 1000mmThis is a painting that has been coming for some time but I had to think it out and get it right.
There is a lot of emotion in this painting.
The subject is our little girl who contracted Meningitis before she was one year old and it has left her profoundly deaf.
At the time she was the youngest ever to receive a Cochlea implant which is a marvellous invention and has taught her to speak very clearly. One of the down sides however is the taunting she has received at the hands of her piers at school.
This has had serious consequences that I will not go into here but I wanted to capture that look of forlornness and defeat of life and the overwhelming feeling to give up the fight to try and fit in to to-days society.
The main portrait is her as I see her. The second is a clinical view of her with the implant and the distant one is her looking back at herself feeling ugly and wishing things were different.
I feel a bit at odds about putting this in here but I painted this as a statement I guess and therefore should be shown.
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Comments: 55
Thank you for your kind words. Yes I am afraid there are a lot of insecure people up here.
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You're welcome. I used to let people picking on me bother me, but I've learned to ignore it, and people stop doing it so much. And even for those who still make fun of me, that's their own burden, because it doesn't hurt me, but it's just another bad deed weighing down their own conscience. I don't care so much about what people think of me anymore. I just try to be the best me I can be.
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Hey G, just featured this stunning piece in my journal
[link]
Will email over the weekend
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Hi Elfy, thanks for the feature mate, I need more friends like you.
Looking forward to your email I have been chewing over your last one. I have a reply three quarters written but have not sent it yet, I like the idea of a combined show I will contact you soon about it.
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Looking forward to reading your email G, I'll carve out some time later to reply, and to your Crusties one too, fantastic photos!!
Where has this week gone, phew! Hope yours is going well
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Some of it can go to hell but most was good.
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What a moving tribute, not only to your child, but to all those people who have suffered in the same way. You do her proud, Graeme, and I fervently wish that as she goes through life she will be comforted and will come to a place of peace within. To hell with the '
God bless her! And you!
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Hi Tory, how's everything. We have had some good news on her education side and are just waiting for some people to get back to us. We may be able to get her educated in a whole new way, we will see.
I am happy with the painting but want to pursue this subject and style a bit more to perfect it.
She is a good kid but being the way she is takes a lot of time of us but I think in the long run it will pay off.
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So with the new style of education, will this involve other kids in a similar situation? I am flabbergasted that other kids tease her - my god they should be made to swap places with her for a while and see if they still want to be so cruel.
Good on you guys for going the extra mile for her. So do you use Ozlan? I have been thinking about learning it...
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We are trying to bring a lot of things together, like home teaching, and group stuff etc still getting information about it.
She was going to a Steiner school but we have had to stop it too, not their fault.
The whole deaf VS cochlea thing is bizarre you would think anything would be better than being deaf but humans are very complicated and nothing is easy.
She has been diagnosed with depression so it is all rather up hill.
Haven't tried Ozlan yet but give it time.
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My two daughters were both home-schooled and never even met their teachers. The eldest was dux of the school so I cna only say I believe this kind of education to be far superior...Their other main education was to travel to both Asia and Europe at very formative ages..that set them in good stead for appreciating just how lucky we are in this country..
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That's encouraging, well done. She is starting to pick up a bit now but she is so sensitive to comments but all you can do is keep trying.
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Poor dear girl. Kids can be so horribly cruel, I know firsthand.
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Thanks Megan, sometimes I think I would not be a human if I had a choice. Sorry for the delay in responding I had an opportunity suddenly come up I could not refuse. I went on a road trip with the Crusty Demons.
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I have absolutely no idea who they are, but I'm sure you had loads of fun...
And as far as humanity goes, yeah a lot of people suck, but I thank God for all the ones who don't. Because it's those people, the ones who actually have hearts that give me at least some sort of hope.
And tell your daughter, I truly believe she is beautiful with or without the implant. And I'm absolutely positive, the way you talk about her, she is absolutely beautiful inside as well. And in the long-run, that's what really counts the most. It took me ages to figure that out, but I absolutely believe that it's true.
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Thanks Megan, I will show her your comment I'm sure she will love it.
If you want to know what a Crusty is check them out [link] not everyone's thing but my son is one of them. There are shots of him in my gallery. Thanks again.
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You're welcome
And I'll definitely check them out.
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This is exquisite. In the main portrait - your conception of her- you really captured the wisdom and awareness that only kids who go through trauma acquire. She is striking, as is your representation of her! Her experiences will make her ten times the person any of her tormentors can ever hope to be! Though it is cold comfort to her right now, I am sure! Best of luck to her, you and your family!
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Thanks Val, it was one of those paintings where I knew what I wanted and it had to be done with multiple images to show what I wanted to come through so it is good to hear what you are saying. Some things have happened in the last few days that may make a change for the better.
Sorry for the delay in responding I had an opportunity suddenly come up I could not refuse. I went on a road trip with the Crusty Demons, wild.
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Kids to me are proof that Hobbs was correct in his assumptions about human nature.
She has grown into a lovely lady. Toast to you for posting your painting!
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Thanks Jak, I think when you put your full emotion into a work it shows, I want to do more on this line. Sorry for the delay in responding I had an opportunity suddenly come up I could not refuse. I went on a road trip with the Crusty Demons Yaaaa.
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The Crusty Demons! ha ha ha ha!
Awwwww... and thanks for the encouraging words. I learn gads from your works as well. Maybe someday, I will be blessed enough to own one or more of your trees. They are sooooooooo my favorites.
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This is a very beautiful artwork. Well done. I am sorry to hear of her problems
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Thanks, I think once again we are on the right track with her.
Sorry for the delay in responding I had an opportunity suddenly come up I could not refuse. I went on a road trip with the Crusty Demons. WOW
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wow! brilliant concept and execution! beautiful skin tone and lighting as well!
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Thanks Ivan, I have put a fair amount of time into getting this one right, it meant a lot to me so I am glad to get these responses.
Sorry for the delay in responding I had an opportunity suddenly come up I could not refuse.
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Graeme.
These portraits are so good.
I can't say anything more than what you yourself say.
You all have my sympathy and I wish you the best for the future.
Sue.
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Thanks Suzanne, things have a funny way of happening which work out for the best and some things have already started but we will have to see how they go. May be it will all change for the better soon.
Sorry for the delay in responding I had an opportunity suddenly come up I could not refuse.
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Don't worry about replies!
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Kids can be really hard and cruel to each other and make life miserable for the different kid. I hope that as she gets older she comes to terms with all the great things about herself and can feel good about herself and see she is so much more than a hearing problem. Beautiful work...how does she like it?
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Hi Sandi, little girls play such mind games I can not believe it sometimes. I think she will come to terms with it we just need to find a new way of educating her which may have already started to happen we are waiting for some news now.
She finds it confronting but understands what I have tried to paint and appreciates that, she is very inelegant.
Sorry for the delay in responding I had an opportunity suddenly come up I could not refuse.
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Girls and boys, both. I hope things work out well for her. How old is she now?
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She is 13, it seems the more they try to stamp out bullying the worse it gets.
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It is a shame about the taunting, but I think the only way round it is if your daughter said to them, "Do you want to wear an implant as well? I'm sure that could be arranged." or if a teacher told those involved why she wears it, and why she could not do without it. True story - I have an e-mail correspondent who wears hearing aids and who is studying to be an audiologist. She had to drop off some forms at the "disability unit" at the university she is studying at, and she heard some of the student volunteers who were collecting the forms prior to them going to the head of this unit, and they were poking fun at another student. She told me she did not want to tell anybody "in authority" about this, but I told her, "If those students are like that now, imagine what they'll be like when they've graduated. You MUST tell someone". So she did - and when she went back to that place about a week later - those students weren't there and had been replaced by "sensible" ones. I hope your daughter is less bothered by the taunters in future.
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Hi Martyn, thanks for your thoughts but we have tried almost everything you say but humans being inelegant like they are just think of new ways to come back at ya and so it changes but stays the same if you know what I mean. We have even had the police involved.
Sorry for the delay in responding I had an opportunity suddenly come up I could not refuse. I went on a road trip with the Crusty Demons.
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Well, I hope you enjoyed the Crusty Demons and hope your daughter has less problems with these, well I can only call them this, idiots.
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This is a beautiful and meaningful use of your artistry.
I am so supportive of this direction and this intimacy.
John Paul
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Hi John, thanks for your support I do these type of portraits every now and then because I have to for some reason, it just seems to be a need I have.
Sorry for the delay in responding I had an opportunity suddenly come up I could not refuse.
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Absolutely stunning, beautiful and moving. I can feel all the emotion and pain in this piece as well as the love you have for your daughter. I can imagine how hard it was to paint and even more to show it here, but I'm so glad you did mate, it's incredible
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Elfy, mate I just got an offer to ride a Harley Daverson to Adelaide with some of the Crusty Demons while my son dose a story on the ride for the magazine. Then I will watch two Crusty shows in Adelaide get pissed with the boys then fly home.
How cool is that.
Sorry I can't be serious at the moment and I won't be home till Sunday night so I will answer all then see ya mate.
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How fantastic is that!! You enjoy, and I think you're gunna!! Want to see photos when your back! 
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The hits on this are going up since you featured it. I will have to subscribe to this joint and do more but money is short at the moment, hell it's always short.
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Well there we are, look at that, a little sneaky pixie has started you off with a subscription, so no excuses now!
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How did you do that. I just did that drawing for UKTara to try and get one of these.
Elfy your naughty but very nice for doing that, you will have to show me some tricks now on how to work things. I had a bit of a play last night at one in the morning after painting all day and night, I think I have the basics.
Thanks mate that was a very nice surprise last night.
I am going to get that reply email off to you today.
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Awww you're welcome! I just won a month sub coming 2nd place in the traditional artist competition, so thought I'd spread the joy! And it might keep you on here longer too!
Looking forward to the email, and eventually seeing that painting, Hope you're having a good day
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I have been learning how to do things on my home page have a look.
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