It's Hard To Get By Just Upon A Smile

 
 
60 x 60 x 3.8cm
'It's Hard to Get By Just Upon a Smile' is from the 'Footprints' series of work. This series of work explores connections to places. I started painting this before embarking on a solo trip to New York and me and my mum were talking about a Cat Stevens album she used to play when I was little. We were laughing about the fact that I knew all the words to all the songs on the album. As I was packing to go to New York I heard a song playing next door - it was 'Wild World' by Cat Stevens. As the words 'it's hard to get by just upon a smile' were playing I could hear my mum telling me to be careful and that just going around smiling wasn't going to keep me safe!
Anyway, I did return safely and as I was finishing this painting the song came to mind.
A homage to New York and memories of a wonderful time there.
 
Acrylic and varnish on high quality canvas.
Hanging wire on back to hang.