Jane Godall's Portrait is Finished

Nicholas and Jane GoodallHave you checked PORTRAITS and THE STORY GALLERY yet?  Jane Goodall’s portrait is finished.  This is how I saw the painting when Jane sat for her portrait:

I met with Jane Goodall to discuss her full length portrait and what I had envisioned for her.  As many of you know Jane’s field of study is with the chimpanzees at Gombe Stream in Tanzania, East Africa. Her spiritual journey was important to me as an artist.  On the cover of one of her books titled ‘Reason for Hope’ Jane is looking towards the sky.  I sensed a feeling of departure.  I began to consider the end of her journey and how such overwhelming love would continue for so many who have come to adore her, not only in the world of the chimps, but in our own as well.  She has stood for greatness, integrity and purpose.  I asked Jane to consider sitting on that same rock fifty years after beginning her research, looking out to the heavens once again. I could envision a ghostly image of  a chimp in the background, and if you looked closely you might see a tear seeping from his dark brown eyes.  Jane became excited with the idea and asked if it could be David Greybeard.  It was David Greybeard, the wild chimp who first made contact with her, and that changed science forever.  “Of course”, I said, “it would be an honor.”  I felt I had, indeed, been in the presence of a champion of our world.  Now look at her completed portrait.