Dearly Departed Drawings ~ Kole {day 324}

This is the last portrait drawing installment of my 365 days of Drawing New Years resolution.  I still have four more portraits I will be completing and blogging about in between life, children, tie dye and custom work for Dearly Departed Drawings and custom Tshirt Quilts (I have a feeling these are going to be a hit).  This year has been filled with tremendous meaning, full of loved ones, memories, friends, family and even strangers.  Not only have I been practicing and honing my drawing skills but uncovering these amazing people that once walked our earth.  They are loved, missed, not forgotten.  All the souls touched me in some way and inspired me to create from the heart.

Leigh is the sister I never had, the addiction I know of all too well.

Houd is the dear friend that I thought I had more time with, the suicidal struggle I experienced long ago.

Violet was the baby I did not lose but mourn the thought.  I admire the loving family that surrounds her, the constant outpouring of love they give her and her memory.

Neil is the sibling that reminds me of the relationship I crave with my own brother.  Accidental death is a fear of my own.

Kole is the finale, the light in the darkness.  I don't know Kole, I don't know his mother.  I first heard about Kole in 2008 from a co-worker who asked me to send prayers, positive thoughts, good vibes his way.  September of this year, 2014, I start seeing a little boy popping up in my Facebook news feed.  The profile name looks vaguely familiar but I can't place it, she isn't on my friends list.  After Facebook continues to show me his photos in my news feed for two weeks - it hits me.  It is Kole, the little boy I heard about and prayed for six years ago.

"I saw a small lump on his right rib cage. It bothered me. I asked about it at his checkup in April 2008 and was told it was nothing to be worried about, a "sternum abnormality". I also told them his eating wasn't as hearty and his sleep patterns were disrupted and out of sorts. I was told these things were all normal and he was a healthy growing boy hitting all his milestones.  Then he developed a low-grade fever."  

"He was a bright light from the moment I found out I had a baby inside me.
He saved my life."

 ~ Renee

I decided to start Kole's portrait today, I meant to start him earlier and then decided to wait a little longer.  Then today the overwhelming need to get him onto paper occurred and here we are.  I am going to let his little light shine bright.  He is loved, he is missed, he is not forgotten.  My drawing grid is drawn and the paper marked.  The intense urges to draw are powerful and I imagine I might find myself under the lamp with pencils and Kole tonight.