For me, my shadow figure paintings are about memory and the suggestion of a past time, a moment which happened, which is hard to keep hold of. I find that certain times in our lives become like shadows, and when they have passed, it is almost as if they were not real. Most of my memory of looking after my daughters, when they were young, was like that. I found motherhood of young children, very stressful, and like giving birth, I have somehow pushed it all to the back recesses of my mind, where memories are quite hard to access. Only photos remind me. I now wish I had appreciated their young years more. So many people really enjoy that time, but for me it was rather alien and I think I was in a sort of shock. However it definitely made me grow as a human being. (I had to think of others before myself ! ) I am now very aware how blessed I am to have had two such wonderful daughters, who are now fantastic young women. @imogen_allen_ @isoldeallen @imogenall This painting, inspired by a photo by photographer @sannienielsen is about remembering the innocent mischief of a young child, as it teeters on the edge of catastrophe. A baby moving into that crawling stage can be that. It is both wonderful that they develop, and it is terrifying what they can now get up to. Often it is better, when they start walking, because it can slow them down. #crawling #ontheedge Imogen, actually fell all the way down our stairs onto a mosaic tiled floor. Thankfully she didn’t hit her head or break anything. It was the terrifying sound as she tumbled down step by step, which got me. (Postscript.There was no stair gate in place because she could walk by now, and usually managed the stairs. ) So this is a homage to motherhood and babies, and the shadow of that time remaining with us forever. #fallingdownstairs #fallingdownthestairs #baby #todler #motherhood #shadowfigure #memories #shadows #shadowpaintings #rememberingtheirchildhood #remembering #rememberingyou