A year ago my dad had a dream he was standing on the stairs in his house, looking in a long mirror next to a painting of his great(x3?) grandfather. He asked me to paint it.

In keeping with Dad’s fascination with the past, this became a painting of layers and time. His study of genealogy crept in as bits of the family tree I wrote for him when I was young. The wallpaper from his house grew over parts of the image, all but obscuring the mirror. He mentioned the artists reflection in Velazquez’s ‘Las Meninas’, so in a nod to the great work, I snuck myself in, ghost style as I painted him.

Slideshow of the many stages below. It was quite a journey!

Oil on canvas 150 x 100cm