My Dad & The Dude
This is still a movie related post but is the result of another hobby of mine… painting.
Some may find this a bit morbid but this painting was done using the remains of my late father. He died a couple of years ago and after getting him cremated, I decided at that point that I would commit them to a painting that he would have liked.
And the result… ? The result was The Dude from both of our favourite film “The Big Lebowski“. I shared lots of great movie experiences with my dad but probably none more so than the cult Coens classic. The reason this film resonated with us is because my dad actually looked and acted quite a lot like The Dude himself.
So here is the 5 stages of the Oil painting that I done for (and including) my late dad Gerry Walker.
Stage 1…
Stage 2…
Stage 3…
Stage 4…
Stage 5…
Mark Walker
MARKED MOVIES 
September 20, 2012 at 5:29 pm
OmGod Mark thisis a stunning tribte to a man who obviously means so much.
The painting is increible, I feel like I know this man.
I am not creeped out all bu the use of his ashes as a medium and find the texure added is just perfect.
You should feel vert god about what you did.
It is a masterpiece of your Father.
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September 20, 2012 at 6:32 pm
Thank you very much. I’m glad you think so. When I posted this originally a while ago, many felt the same way as yourself. I think my dad would have liked it also. He was a big fan of The Dude and I wanted to keep the painting lighthearted and colourful. It would seem that this image was the correct choice. Thanks again for your kind words. 😀
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September 20, 2012 at 9:06 pm
I wanted to include in my comment that I think your dad is proud of you and finds his portrait a perfect likeness, but I felt it was completely presumptious and arrogant on my part.
I am grateful you have said so ~ I’m sure it is true.
You have a fine hand with oils, showing just enough restraint.
(By the way that was “you should feel Good: not “god : as I typo-ed it)
Did I miss what year you did this?
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September 21, 2012 at 8:47 pm
Your typo added to the nature of it somewhat and if a typo was to happen, I’m glad it happened then. LOL. I now have delusions of (god) grandeur. 😉
Anyway, I’m very appreciative of your thoughts here miss. I too believe my dad would have loved this painting. In some ways it has now become the shrine that I never had. Thank you! 😀
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January 22, 2013 at 3:37 pm
Mark. this is… brilliant. Fantastic painting! I couldn’t think of and better way of paying tribute.
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January 22, 2013 at 3:58 pm
Cheers Chris. It was difficult getting through it and it put it off for ages but it’s done now and I think my Da would have loved it.
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February 19, 2015 at 4:29 pm
Hey Mark, I just saw this link – what a brilliant tribute, especially given what happens to Donny’s ashes in the film! Great stuff.
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February 19, 2015 at 4:34 pm
Cheers Stu. Yeah, me and my dad were massive Lebowski fans and the Dude looked, and acted, very much like him. I thought this was the best way to remember him. This painting still hangs proudly on my wall. 🙂
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February 19, 2015 at 4:41 pm
Excellent. A great way of remembering, for sure. Plus…can’t resist…I bet it really ties the room together.
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February 19, 2015 at 5:21 pm
Ahaha! Hey, my buddies didn’t die face down in the muck so that… sorry… It certainly does tie the room together mate! 🙂
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July 3, 2016 at 6:14 am
Wow dude I just stumbled across this…. amazing stuff, perfect tribute. Your father would be proud
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July 4, 2016 at 4:31 pm
Hey thanks for dropping by, buddy. Yeah, this was a difficult painting to get through. Particularly because I mixed my dad’s ashes into the paint but I’m happy with it and I think he would be as well. It takes pride of place on my wall and offers something a little less morbid than an urn or something like that lying around, you know?!
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July 7, 2016 at 11:29 pm
hell yeah man, I love the idea, I’ve never heard of using ashes for a painting. Awesome stuff man, sounds like he was a pretty awesome dude 🙂
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July 15, 2016 at 12:06 pm
Yeah, if you mix them with oils it works a treat, man. My old man was very much like The Dude so it seemed kind of fitting. And it’s pleasant to have him still kicking around. 🙂
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July 16, 2016 at 6:43 am
That is just pure awesome dude, seriously.
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July 16, 2016 at 5:15 pm
Cheers bro! 🙂
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December 10, 2016 at 10:39 pm
your Da would be so proud of you Mark not only is the painting excellent, but the whole idea is just fantastic. Well done! ..thanks for sharing this btw
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December 17, 2016 at 11:59 am
Cheers John. I reckon my Da would have liked the idea and would have been chuffed that this was my way of remembering him. He’s always around the house now, you know?! 🙂
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