It is a breathtaking image.
As with any first born child in any family, it is inevitable that we have albums packed full of photographs chronicling every aspect of Gus’s young life. Every photo tells the story of a different moment and each image has a history of its own.
As we get older and cameras are placed in front of us at weddings, birthdays and days out we subconsciously hit a different gear. It is hard not to be self conscious – to ‘pose’. Children keep an innocence and ignorance of that. Anna shot a few simple digital shots of Gus at home in barely a couple of minutes; they were neither posed nor a trial to get. Gus was relaxed and simply himself. The snaps weren’t necessarily striking or moving; but the artist saw something within that and with the artist’s gift instilled a breathing life into her study of him.
The painting that Anna Kruczynska has done of Gus is without doubt the most complete ‘capture’ of him .It is a single image caught in a heartbeat that tells everything about who he is. Why do people sit for hours in galleries and stare and stare at one image; and even return to stare some more. Now I understand.
In generations to come when someone asks ‘who was Gus and what was he like?’ I would urge the custodian of this painting to point them to where it hangs.
‘I would highly recommend Anna to anyone looking for a special gift - she painted a lovely portrait of our 2.5 year old daughter. Anna was very professional and as I hadn't yet selected the perfect candidate photo, she came around and took a selection of photos for me to choose from. My husband was delighted with his surprise birthday present.’
Susan Taylor, Surrey
'Apart from her precise attention to detail, Anna was able to bring out our daughter's most endearing features and exuberant personality.'
