The secluded path on campus, near the creek, was dark that February afternoon. The recent storm was on its way North.
I caught a glimpse of her eyes among the Sycamores. Moving closer I wanted to know what had happened to her body. Where were her clothes?
Kneeling I extracted the remains that revealed a portrait of a woman with coal black hair the shape of fire.
Those eyes told the truth. Mystery is intriguing...
Photo: My brother Mathew found this painting on campus at Chico State- a mysterious subject by a mysterious artist. He told me, "When I saw it I knew it had to go on your blog." When I asked him why, he replied, "Because it tells part of a story and goes with the theme of this month...buried past uncovered."
What colors have painted your portrait?
Text by Mathew Amaro.
Brother Matthew has brought his find to light ... His naked eye searching for the naked truth...
Same breed! No doubt...
Now the colours for my portrait? black and white...
Posted by: Marie-Noëlle | 28 February 2007 at 10:52 AM
Corey,
It's great fun to imagine character for found portraits.
rel
Posted by: rel | 28 February 2007 at 11:09 AM
Intriguing.
Posted by: patpaulk | 28 February 2007 at 01:22 PM
My family only had bright colors...all bright for years and years and we talked about it! Now we have had the darkness of cancer. And we talk about that.
Posted by: shabbyinthecity | 28 February 2007 at 02:13 PM
i love that your brother saw something beautiful and thought of you, :)
Posted by: jenny | 28 February 2007 at 02:36 PM
I guess you and Mathew share the gift of wonder!
My friend Mary lent me a book awhile back filled with pictures and letter found on the ground by others. Some of the entries were disturbing, still the subject fascinates me greatly.
Thank you for your entry Mathew.
Posted by: constance | 28 February 2007 at 02:46 PM
That is an intriguing mystery! Wonderful portrait and well-spotted by your brother.
Posted by: Paris Parfait | 28 February 2007 at 03:18 PM
Very Sophia Lauren...beautiful.
Is your entire family poetic or what? Amazing!
Posted by: Darlene | 28 February 2007 at 03:41 PM
What a sharp-eyed brother you have! Reminds me of a cover for one of those bodice ripper paperbacks.
Posted by: Star | 28 February 2007 at 03:53 PM
The girl in the portrait is very familiar....I have definitely seen her before just can’t place where.
Annabelle
Posted by: Annabelle | 28 February 2007 at 04:05 PM
A bit of haunting beauty peeking out...taking the time to recognize it WOW. This is a lovely post, kudos to Matthew for his eloquency.
XO
Kristen
Posted by: kristen robinson | 28 February 2007 at 04:58 PM
there certainly is a lot of talent and treasure in that amaro blood.
Posted by: stephanie s | 28 February 2007 at 05:00 PM
took a look at matthew...he's a cutie...and deep too!cheers!
Posted by: annie | 28 February 2007 at 05:19 PM
your brother has a keen eye as well-runs in the family, I guess!
Posted by: Jann | 28 February 2007 at 05:25 PM
Oh so it's genetic is it? Great writing Matthew.
Posted by: Di Overton | 28 February 2007 at 05:40 PM
She reminds me of Maja perfume. Not the same image but reminds me nonetheless. My colors: Murky moving rapidly into sunlight.
Posted by: AnnieElf | 28 February 2007 at 06:02 PM
Lovely, Brother Mathew is wonderful with his inspiring words, and for thinking of you on his walks. I love the poem on YouTube, it's perfect for this painting and entry.
Posted by: cruststation | 28 February 2007 at 07:14 PM
Happy Birthday Choopie! And to Mark, too!
Terteenie
Posted by: Franca Bollo | 28 February 2007 at 07:18 PM
Oh My, the words that run so smoothly and beautifully in this family!
Posted by: stephanie | 28 February 2007 at 08:29 PM
Thank you sister for the guest blog gift what fun - a birthday wish come true.
Thank you to your faithful readers, I can't hardly imagine critical words coming from any of them except maybe Orama. Orama,
where are you darling?
Posted by: Brother Mathew | 28 February 2007 at 08:33 PM
Dear Brother Mathew,
Happy Birthday! Isn't it suppose to be me giving you a gift for your birthday?
Thank you for writing on Tongue in Cheek, it is like having a day off! Anytime you want to write let me know!
Happy Birthday again younger brother! And Happy Birthday Mark too!
Posted by: tongue in cheek | 28 February 2007 at 08:54 PM
Brother Matt,
Happy Birthday!What are you doing looking around the campus???
Posted by: Yann | 28 February 2007 at 08:56 PM
Matthew has a Latin soul.
What this face says to me: "Yo soy la tierra de tus raices" (I am the earth that holds your roots).
Many happinesses to you!
Posted by: Colette | 28 February 2007 at 09:18 PM
What a talented brother...like sister, like brother! :-)
Posted by: frieda | 28 February 2007 at 10:13 PM
everything about this
wonderful post is a
lustrous marvel to me -
it inspired echos and
now I have to go work
on some poetry -
thankyou -
the video was charming and
engaging!
Posted by: sophie :)sophi | 28 February 2007 at 10:36 PM
Happy Birthday Matthew.
My portrait is painted with deep red earth, smokey grey eucalyptus leaves, bright blue sky and the white capped waves of the ocean.........you did ask!
Posted by: herhimnbryn | 28 February 2007 at 10:49 PM
Such a beautiful post, it is genetic! And that portrait has so much depth. My portrait if painted today, would be grey.
Posted by: nel | 28 February 2007 at 11:29 PM
another indicator as to how special you are corey... you have a brother who reads your blog and loves you so much he writes a soulful post on your blog. Mama amaro did a great job with her bambinos !!! xoxo
Posted by: diana | 01 March 2007 at 12:00 AM
having a tough day at work.... so i rewarded my self for being such a "nose the grindstone" worker lately by sneaking a visit to your blog. ah!!! what a breath of fresh, creative air! i need to reward myself more often. life is too short not to read my favorite blogs! thank you for this gift!
Posted by: snowsparkle | 01 March 2007 at 12:12 AM
Wonderful, as always. My colors? New England in March.
Posted by: tut-tut | 01 March 2007 at 01:11 AM
Happy Birthday Matt,little brother of Corey. Is it Marks birthday also..? If so.. happy birthday to you brother Mark
Posted by: Shelley | 01 March 2007 at 01:20 AM
It is one thing to be taking a walk, looking at the scenery, thinking...but then to suddenly discover something that grabs your attention, so completely out of the ordinary is quite another. While many have walked by her over and over, while many probably thought it was a toss of yet another piece of paper - someone, Mathew chose to investigate. Seeing with what is now an obvious trait of having a keen eye for observation, he chose not to treat her as rubbish. It reads like a novel where the abandoned and damaged portrait becomes someone sought in real life. That perhaps she was someones subject and lives and breathes nearby. Will he ever find her? What will her name be? And if he does find her will she observe HIM as he did her portrait?
The colors of my portrait would be swirls of various colors, you have to look deep to see them all separately.
Love to you Corey and an appreciative nod to Mathew for that keen eye.
XOXO
Posted by: Lisa Oceandreamer | 01 March 2007 at 02:03 AM
Happy birthday to Matthew....with the same spirit.....
Posted by: Gypsy Purple-Chamara | 01 March 2007 at 02:52 AM
Your brother reads your blog and provides post fodder?! Lucky you, Corey! And I can see creativity and storytelling runs in your family. :)
Posted by: susanna | 01 March 2007 at 03:41 AM
Oh yes, Pecan is currently the colour in my life. That is, I painted my living room Pecan today. I may have made a mistake. Errr... ;p
Posted by: susanna | 01 March 2007 at 03:45 AM
you are surrounded by beautiful people:)
Posted by: kim | 01 March 2007 at 04:28 AM
Wonderful!
Gosh, I love that campus. So, so love it.
:)
Posted by: Amber | 01 March 2007 at 07:22 AM
I love pretty jewel colours, but dont know how a portrait would look in those colours. Something that looks happy and content. Inspiring family you have. x
Posted by: Renee | 01 March 2007 at 10:41 AM
She is beautiful, as the words of your brother are too.
Talent runs in your family, a genetic trait!!!
xo
Posted by: Blue | 01 March 2007 at 08:13 PM
I would say you and your brother share more than just dna!
Posted by: candy | 01 March 2007 at 10:59 PM
What an intriguing find! I wonder who left the painting there - if they lost it or threw it away...and why and who...what a lot of questions this brings to mind!
Posted by: tinker | 02 March 2007 at 09:51 AM
Choopie darling, You write like your breath smells.
Tongue in Cheek responds:
Orama is my brother...he is having fun with our brother.
Posted by: Orama | 05 March 2007 at 08:31 PM
What a find. (One of my step-nieces is at Chico State.)
Posted by: Marilyn | 11 March 2007 at 02:36 AM
that pic is intriguing.. but the video is even more so.. the words..
Posted by: mystic rose | 12 May 2007 at 01:07 AM