I painted this portrait years ago. Only recently did I pull it from a stack of canvases that lean against a wall in our house. When I had a good look at it, I wondered why I’d put it aside. I mean, I like this painting. She’s lovely.
I call her “Magdalena.” I’d love to tell you she’s named after someone I know, or for a Villa-Lobos opera, but her name is not so noble. Truth? She’s named after a Leo Sayer B-Side from the 1970s. (“You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” was the single.) That 45 record introduced me to the name and it stuck. Once I’d painted this gal, the name resurfaced in my brain hole and that was that.
I’m glad “Magdalena” has been pulled from storage. She deserves to be seen. If only by me.