She is really happy now...
Her name was Irina Kopaeva . She was very sick from her childhood . Irina suffered from cerebral palsy , deafness and leukemia . But she was a very strong person and very gifted . She had learned to paint when she was 10 years old . Irina did it by her toes , and every movement even by legs meant a lot of work for her . She was an orphan and lived with her grandmother .They were very poor . I helped them with money every month . Irina could talk quite well and she understood other people by reading their lips , so we made friends with Irina very soon . She was really a very smart girl . Though she was very shy I managed to persuade her to be photographed . She couldn't listen to music but I told her a lot 'bout Elvis . When she had seen his photos first time , she was impressed by Elvis' appearance so much . She told me that she was charmed by his expressivy eyes and his beauty . She fell in love with him but she was afraid of trying to paint him . She thougth that she couldn't even try to do it . Once , her grandma called me and asked me to see Irina . It was a call just two days before Irina's death . Irina gave me a present . It was Elvis' portrait . She was very happy that day and she told me that she knew 'bout her close death but she would die happy now . She passed away at the age of 20 . Only 5 people came to attend her funeral .They were her grandma , my sister , two neighbours and me . It was very hard time for me . But I hope she is really happy now with God . She wanted her " Elvis " to stay in the USA . And I promised her to take care of her grandmother . So , if you buy her work , you'd help old lady to survive besides having Irina's work at home .
"This look is more than entreaty , it's much deeper..."
Done by Irina Kopaeva
1997 Oil on canvas 12,01"x15,83"(30,5x40,2 cm)
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