tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4159387085896248366.post-23620714531317629602007-08-17T15:18:00.000-07:002008-04-11T07:54:42.177-07:00<span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_nyAyqa7HH2o/RsYmBjugybI/AAAAAAAAAEE/ud_B1ixpo4U/s1600-h/HELLO_LOW.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_nyAyqa7HH2o/RsYmBjugybI/AAAAAAAAAEE/ud_B1ixpo4U/s320/HELLO_LOW.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099805436255717810" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" ><span style=""><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Very Latest from Hello Magazine in the UK and Canada! </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"><br />(Click Diana)</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_nyAyqa7HH2o/RsYiwjugyaI/AAAAAAAAAD8/RQgqI4s9lMU/s1600-h/diana_1_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 354px;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_nyAyqa7HH2o/RsYiwjugyaI/AAAAAAAAAD8/RQgqI4s9lMU/s320/diana_1_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099801845663058338" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br />THE STORY BEHIND THE NEWS ....</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_nyAyqa7HH2o/RsY6IDugycI/AAAAAAAAAEM/vj9cwWWl_Kw/s1600-h/framedArt.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_nyAyqa7HH2o/RsY6IDugycI/AAAAAAAAAEM/vj9cwWWl_Kw/s320/framedArt.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099827538157423042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />After the death of the Princess of Wales on August 31, 1997, I began visualizing a portrait of Diana, to deal with my intense feelings about the abrupt, senseless and swift manner of Diana’s death.<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />I didn’t know Princess Diana, but like so many </span><span style="font-size:100%;">others I was deeply touched by her life and her death. As a painter, I have always dealt with feelings by painting them out on canvas. That’s what I did here. The painting, then, is probably more about what I</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> felt than about Diana herself, but I hope it rings true and captures something special about her. I wanted the painting to be about her tenderness and vulnerability, and her love for her sons. Just for myself, I titled the picture, “ I love you Wills, I love you Harry,” and I painted to those feelings, which I know were a big part of Diana’s life. I</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> chose to show Diana </span><span style="font-size:100%;">with no jewelry in a simple black dress, because beauty like hers needs no adornment.</span><span style="font-size:100%;">The painting took shape quickly, and, when completed, it was cradled in a simple gold leaf frame.<br /><br />Just days from finishing, I happened to watch Elton John on The Oprah Winfrey Show. I was touched by Elton's sadness, so I immediately decided to give him my painting. My friend </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Bill Reid, </span><span style="font-size:100%;">a concert promoter, put the painting, along with a letter from me, in Elton’s dressing room.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Louis Briel<br /> October 10, 1997</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Around the world with Elton John ...</span><br /><br />A few days later I received a note:<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_nyAyqa7HH2o/RsZJuTugydI/AAAAAAAAAEU/aQvtxuRxYGI/s1600-h/Elton+note.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_nyAyqa7HH2o/RsZJuTugydI/AAAAAAAAAEU/aQvtxuRxYGI/s320/Elton+note.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099844687961835986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">Dear Louis,<br /><br />Thank you so much for the beautiful portrait of Princess Diana - it really is extremely good. I am going to</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> take the canvas on tour with me, so that I can look at it every night before I go on stage. Then, the portrait will be sent to my home in England. You are a very kind man and the gift is much<br />appreciated.<br /><br />Much love, Elton J.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />*The painting is featured</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> (Page 163)</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> in a new book “Diana in Art,” compiled by Mem Mehmet, Chaucer Press, Summer 2007.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_nyAyqa7HH2o/RsZKGDugyeI/AAAAAAAAAEc/VEN2mj8Z_68/s1600-h/51CFAAwIzxL._SS500_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 147px; height: 147px;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_nyAyqa7HH2o/RsZKGDugyeI/AAAAAAAAAEc/VEN2mj8Z_68/s320/51CFAAwIzxL._SS500_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099845095983729122" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span>Louis Briel / Portrait Painterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03487810325462508824noreply@blogger.com