My last blog was titled, To Love and Lose, the Human Dilemma and I had no idea that within a week I would have to face that dilemma head on.
It is with great sadness and shock I am writing to tell you of the passing of a fine Canadian artist and advocate for women, Tina Dolter, tinadolter.com
Tina had what I consider the greatest of fortune in life. She was able to combine her talent, her passion and her cause all into a highly successful and recognized career.
I had the incredible pleasure of co chairing with Tina a panel discussion titled Redefining The Art Of Aging Well in conjunction with her Toronto exhibit Sensuality of the Maturing Woman. That was just under one year ago and now Tina has gone. She passed away suddenly this morning from complications related to flu.
Tina’s portraits are the visual representation of my written message on fabulous aging and it was a great gift to me that we found each other. Tina’s talent for capturing the light inside the woman 50+ was miraculous. I thought her work was good when I saw it online but I will never forget how overcome I was when I first stood live in front of her canvas. It was not just technique, it was an ability to hear and see and feel the subject which directed her artist’s hand.
Agora Gallery in New York City had very recently asked Tina if they could represent her and suggested she begin work on the portraits of famous NY faces, she was at the peak of her much recognized and awarded career. Tina and I joked last September at the panel discussion about the next step; painting and writing about men! In true Tina form she got right on it and had already finished a few striking portraits of men, proving that her gift for capturing the authentic being was not restricted to the female portraiture.
I cannot express how distraught and disappointed I am by this loss. In my foolish believe that life goes on forever I luxuriated in the thought that Tina and I had a few more panel discussions in us. In her passing Tina has offered me a lesson; life is fragile and to live it fully and kindly and with such ardour as she did is to acknowledge that lesson and to honour Tina.
My deepest sympathy to Jerry, her great love, and to all her family. Even in our short time together professionally it was easy to see how Tina cherished her family and her life in Newfoundland. I cannot imagine the gap this loss will create in your lives. I pray that the impact Tina had on the lives of others offers you some comfort at this time.
Goodbye Tina it was a gift to know you and your work.