“Lifegiving” by Esmie Gayo McLaren


Title: Lifegiving

Artist: Esmie Gayo McLaren

Medium: Painting (watercolor on paper)

How does this artwork represent healthy human aging? (Artwork Description)

“Lifegiving” (14″ x 20″) is a watercolor painting on paper. My artwork shows my father focused on creating one of his creatures from a clump of clay. Along with gardening, playing scrabble, cooking, and outings with his family, sculpting realistic and mythical animals was one of his favourite hobbies. I chose to submit this image because it embodies some of the characteristics of healthy human aging such as engagement with his environment, pleasure in his craft, use of his faculties, and determination to accomplish his goal despite the challenges of comorbidities, diminished sensual perceptions, and arthritic hands. The painting highlights his countenance, expressing his diligence in an activity even as he aged. It portrays the softness in his eyes that marks his purpose, that of showing his love for his family for whom he creates. Ordinarily I would have added more dark colours to the painting to show greater contrast. But I held back because I have subconsciously painted an ethereal look about him which I had begun to observe. My dad, an industrious and creative immigrant teacher who loved his family, passed and reunited with my Mom on February 19, 2024 at the age of 94, 3 months short of 95.

Submission Category: Public