Dr. Beatty's Pear

This is the first of a series of paintings I am doing of pears in organic spaces with non organic shapes in proximity. "Dr. Beatty's Pear" was painted for my surgical oncologist who not only performed life saving surgery, but also provided patient and detailed information and advice after I got my initial cancer diagnosis and then after I got a devastating pathology report from the surgery. He took the time to answer all of our questions and along with my medical oncologist outlined a battle plan that has, so far, proved to be successful.

The following is a section of the letter that will accompany the painting when I send it to him in a couple of days.

I thought long and hard about a thank you gift. Nothing seemed adequate so I am giving you a part of me in exchange for the part you took from me. Since my double mastectomy, pears have become my symbol. It’s the perfect shape, especially the Bosc pear in the painting. Pears are sensual and curvaceous with a lower center of gravity, like the new me. This one has the double meaning of having had a slice removed. “Dr. Beatty’s Pear” exists in an idealistic organic environment with blue skies and green grasses (I painted this during the longest winter in our history that included 224 inches of snow). The vagaries of life are close by, compartmentalized in non-organic shapes. It is meant to be a happy, hopeful painting tempered by a bit of reality.