Beautiful at Eighty

Oil on Canvas

This is a portrait of the artist’s mother, Trish Corben.
Trish grew up playing the violin, and her dream was to one day have a career as a violinist in a major orchestra.
But life tends to lead us in different directions, and before she had the opportunity to audition for her dream, she discovered she was pregnant.
Had this happened in this day and age, it would have been different.
However, back then, it was impossible; a married woman with young children was actively discouraged from pursuing a career.
So Trish instead took on the role of wife and mother.
It’s not something she ever regrets – she loves her children.
But she is always a little wistful about the career she never had.
Trish performs regularly in local orchestras, even now in her 80s, and has taught music all her life, inspiring young minds.
The violin has always been and still is a significant part of her life.