Sat-Oct-26-2013 - an e-mail sent to us folks by a remarkable man in his own right - Tom Coucill ... his Mom is finally getting national recognition as an internationally-renown portrait artist of Norman Rockwell calibre, if not better in some respects ... here is the posting he sent us: Hi Guys: On the evening of Monday, November 11th, 2013, the Hockey Hall of Fame will be inducting their newest members. For the first time since 1958, the inductee portraits will have been produced by another artist other than my mom. At 95-years-young, moms failing eyesight have caused her to call it quits on her illustrious career as Canadas most famous portrait artist. Not a bad career as their official portrait artist at 54 years. Mom in her Hockey Wall of Fame To honour mom, the Hockey Hall of Fame and TSN will be airing a special feature about mom during the live broadcast. They wanted to interview her in the Great Hall, but her failing health didnt allow this to happen. So instead, they will be showing photos of her and her work with voice-over. The Hall asked me to locate photographs of mom. I did manage to find a few. Heres my favourite one. This photo of mom and her portrait of Maurice Rocket Richard was taken during the opening ceremonies of the first permanent home of the Hockey Hall of Fame at the CNE Grounds in 1960. Back then she charged $35 per drawing. Enough to buy her a new hat to match her outfit. It was pink. Heres a little known fact... The Hockey Hall of Fame didnt allow any women to attend the annual induction ceremonies until 1968. No mothers, no wives, no daughters. Oddly enough, they always invited my father as moms stand-in... he always declined. Mom was also a regular portrait artist for the Toronto Star, the Globe & Mail and the Toronto Telegram, as well as the official portrait artist for Canadas Aviation Hall of Fame, the Canadian Business Hall of Fame and the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. Plus... her portrait images of the Canadian Prime Ministers, Governors General and Fathers of Confederation are legendary and printed in a best-selling book. Over the years, Ive told many people this... If you havent had your portrait drawn by Irma Coucill... youre a nobody. Theres much truth in this. Ive had my portrait drawn by my mom countless times and shes also captured my likeness in one of her rare oil paint portraits. How rare? Shes only ever done one portrait in oil. Im not a somebody... but I sure am lucky to have such a nifty mom. Cheers, Tommy NB: The photos posted show Irma standing in front of her Hockey Wall of Fame and below her portrait of the National Hockey Leagues Maurice The Rocket Richard, Montréal Canadiens.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Oct 2013 13:15:37 +0000
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