Day 10 of the '29 Faces' Challenge: "Young Dancer"

'Young Dancer' Original Painting,  7" x 9"

Another day, another Face.  For this, the 10th Day of the '29 Faces' Challenge, I completed and signed yet another painting that had been kicking around my studio for a while now (see my earlier post 'Unfinished Business').  As with my Day 3 face painting 'Red Dress', it's a support/canvas I built myself using a thin, vintage frame, which I have painted over and incorporated into the overall piece. 

The subject matter is a personal one.  As has been mentioned before in my blog here and there, my dear son is a dancer.  He began classical ballet lessons, that I'd signed him up for as sort of a lark really, at the tender age of 6.  Who knew he would take to it so naturally  -- so much so that all these dozen years later he would not only still be taking classes, but actually actively pursuing classical ballet as a professional career....?

Thus, given my family's high involvement in the dance world all these years (my daughter dancing throughout her childhood as well), I experienced a lot of exposure to, and as a result gained considerable appreciation of, the art and culture of classical ballet.  As the parent of a dancing son, I do admit my motherly attention often focuses on the males present in any given dance situation -- be it class, rehearsal or performance.  I know only too well all the effort, hours of time, sacrifice and sweat equity (and often all without a lot of appreciation or understanding from one's non-dancing peers) that is part and parcel of becoming a skilled and fluent dancer.   And yet, despite all the hard work there is still so much joy, passion and optimism involved.  As part of all this personal experience, though it may not be readily apparent otherwise beyond its title and the white shirt, the requisite standard uniform for any ballet boy (painted as part of the frame), my piece is a loving tribute to that rare individual, the young male ballet student.