"Oh Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling..." lyrics by Fred Weatherly, an English lawyer. The song was written in 1910.

"Danny Boy", Mixed media in sketchbook

"Danny Boy", 9 X !2, (mixed media) charcoal and pastel pencils in Strathmore Toned Tan Sketchbook.

When this portrait was done, I had to think about how I got to this place this afternoon.

Having finished another portrait earlier in the day, I still had some time to work on something and decided it would be a pastel portrait of a little boy.

It is unrefined and I am ok with that. I only spent an hour on it.

But as I was working on this sketch, I kept thinking of my brother when he was young. He had curly dark hair much like this boy. And he so often got into trouble, and this little boy has a mischievous look I think.

Had I known I was going to travel this path, I might have searched through old albums to find a photo from long ago in order to achieve a close resemblance. But since I had only given myself an hour, I wasn't going to spend it searching through old albums.

As I finished the portrait, one of my mother's favourite songs became a brain worm...and I had to look up the lyrics to the tune she loved so much...those lyrics sent me into a funk, especially the closing words.

I will let you find the lyrics if you are unfamiliar with them. They have an added meaning now that mom is no longer with us. I need a glass of wine and a Kleenex.

What songs have a special meaning for you?