From Paul McCartney to Jasmine Banks (my granddaughter)
- Mary-Lou Duggan
- Apr 4, 2021
- 4 min read
In the Beginning
It was at the end of term when the Art Teacher asked us to paint a portrait of anyone and bring it back to the beginning of the next term and if it was good enough she would submit it to the Daily Express Children’s Art Exhibition in London. I think that the year was 1967.
I was inspired, I had always drawn at home, quietly on my own. Back in those day’s it was considered a pastime, an indulgence, of no future worth. Not the way to earn a living. Even though I had very enlightened parents.
They were Joe and Mary Mortimer, former professional ballroom dancers and dance hall owners. They had formed and run Morts the ultimate Rock'n'Roll Venue in Accrington attracting Teds from far and wide.
Still art was an indulgence, a pastime, not the way to earn a living. Me being ‘artistic’ simply meant that I got to do the shop window displays and posters.
Ours was a family business, we all worked in one capacity or another, so to come home with ‘homework’ that involved painting a portrait was too good an opportunity to miss, it was a legitimate reason to sit in my room and paint. (still had to pull my weight in the shop as well though).
Mary’s Music
My mother’s shop and father’s business Mortimer Enterprises (Jukeboxes) was based at that time on Whalley Road in Accrington.
Mary’s Music was a little landmark in the town, a patch of bright orange and neon yellow with a huge glittering sequined sign on the side of the building.
Sitting on the corner of Whalley Road and Dowry Street by the bus stop into town from Whalley and Clayton-Le-Moors, ours was a popular drop off point for the young and the musical of any age.
We were not posh, we were popular, fun and loud.
* Please find a link to Mum's obituary at the bottom of this piece
Anne Parkin – my inspiration.
Back in those days, local shopkeepers supported each other whenever they could, nearly all shopping was done locally, carried home in shopping bags on foot or on the bus. People were frequent visitors into the town especially on Market days, so it would not have occurred to me to go anywhere else for art supplies but a local shopkeeper.
That businesswoman was the lovely Anne Parkin who ran a tiny shop on Burnley Road in Accrington. I wandered over to see her to talk about this opportunity, a portrait. I so needed help and advice from a kind person. Anne was just the right lady to talk to.
Anne (who passed away in 2016) was petite and elegant, I remember that she had fascinating handmade silver earrings that wrapped around her ears, she wore beautiful hand knitted woollens and tweed and plaid skirts. This lady was faithful to the craftspeople and artisans that she supported in her shop, which was a complete delight.
Anne’s shop was a little sanctuary and she didn’t seem to mind me nipping over to browse amongst the beautiful objects and breathe in the heady aroma’s of dried herbs and potpourri, I occasionally spent pocket money on small items that took my fancy.
Anne gave me terrific advice. *Please find a link to an article about Anne at the bottom of this piece
I bought:
A canvas board probably about 12 x 18”
Two long handled bristle paint brushes, one fine and one thicker
Two tubes of Liquitex the newly available Acrylic Paint, one Black and one White.
*Link to Liquitex at the bottom of this piece
My first really proper grown up art supplies.
Anne assured me that that was all I needed to paint a portrait. She told me to watch my values, draw my picture on the canvas before painting and to keep my background neutral. She also advised me to work from a black and white photograph of someone I admired.
Finding someone I admired at age 14 was the easiest thing possible, no contest it was:
Paul McCartney.
Finding a black and white photograph of Paul McCartney was simplicity itself.
I went downstairs to the record racks and pulled out Beatles albums till I found one with a lovely square photo of Paul in black and white and I think that I must have asked my mother’s permission to borrow the album until I had finished the painting.
Sincere apologies I don’t remember the name of the album now and I dare not publish any pics of Paul McCartney because of modern obsession with copyright. (However there is a link to Beatles Album covers at the bottom of this piece)
The Art Teacher
I finished the portrait and took it to school on the first day back after the holiday. I waited to see the art teacher for ages, then she came in and to my absolute delight she was speechless.
This lady had not liked my work before and never awarded me any higher than a B at the end of term, but now things had changed.
It seems that I was the only pupil inspired to paint during that particular holiday and so my teacher sent off my exhibit.
Eventually it was returned after several weeks with a sticker on the back affirming that it had indeed been exhibited in London no less. My very first landmark in art.
My Own Studio
Gradually after a lifetime of earning a living I have evolved back to my art and now have the luxury of an art room (instead of a dining room) I have a proper easel and loads of art supplies in every colour under the sun, not just black and white.
I’m painting all the time, cats, dogs and horses, and most especially people portraits and I’m having a ball.
So now I have a website, I have a shop on my website, I’m on YouTube (early days) Facebook etc
I’m learning that the time for an artist has never been better. I am free to be an artist on my own terms. To paint what I like and publish on Social Media.
So my latest thrill is to see my work online.
Isn’t Life Wonderful.
Mary-Lou
References:
Mary Mortimer - First of the Rockers
Anne Parkinson
Liquitex Acrylics
The Beatles Album Covers
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