Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Guest Blogger: My brother Mathew Amaro

Womanmathew

The secluded path on campus, near the creek, was dark that February afternoon. The recent storm was on its way North.

I caught a glimpse of her eyes among the Sycamores. Moving closer I wanted to know what had happened to her body. Where were her clothes?

Kneeling I extracted the remains that revealed a portrait of a woman with coal black hair the shape of fire.

Those eyes told the truth. Mystery is intriguing…

Photo: My brother Mathew found this painting on campus at Chico State- a mysterious subject by a mysterious artist. He told me, "When I saw it I knew it had to go on your blog." When I asked him why, he replied, "Because it tells part of a story and goes with the theme of this month…buried past uncovered."

What colors have painted your portrait?

Text by Mathew Amaro.

Comments

44 responses to “Guest Blogger: My brother Mathew Amaro”

  1. Marie-Noëlle

    Brother Matthew has brought his find to light … His naked eye searching for the naked truth…
    Same breed! No doubt…
    Now the colours for my portrait? black and white…

    Reply
  2. rel

    Corey,
    It’s great fun to imagine character for found portraits.
    rel

    Reply
  3. patpaulk

    Intriguing.

    Reply
  4. shabbyinthecity

    My family only had bright colors…all bright for years and years and we talked about it! Now we have had the darkness of cancer. And we talk about that.

    Reply
  5. jenny

    i love that your brother saw something beautiful and thought of you, 🙂

    Reply
  6. constance

    I guess you and Mathew share the gift of wonder!
    My friend Mary lent me a book awhile back filled with pictures and letter found on the ground by others. Some of the entries were disturbing, still the subject fascinates me greatly.
    Thank you for your entry Mathew.

    Reply
  7. Paris Parfait

    That is an intriguing mystery! Wonderful portrait and well-spotted by your brother.

    Reply
  8. Darlene

    Very Sophia Lauren…beautiful.
    Is your entire family poetic or what? Amazing!

    Reply
  9. Star

    What a sharp-eyed brother you have! Reminds me of a cover for one of those bodice ripper paperbacks.

    Reply
  10. Annabelle

    The girl in the portrait is very familiar….I have definitely seen her before just can’t place where.
    Annabelle

    Reply
  11. kristen robinson

    A bit of haunting beauty peeking out…taking the time to recognize it WOW. This is a lovely post, kudos to Matthew for his eloquency.
    XO
    Kristen

    Reply
  12. stephanie s

    there certainly is a lot of talent and treasure in that amaro blood.

    Reply
  13. annie

    took a look at matthew…he’s a cutie…and deep too!cheers!

    Reply
  14. Jann

    your brother has a keen eye as well-runs in the family, I guess!

    Reply
  15. Di Overton

    Oh so it’s genetic is it? Great writing Matthew.

    Reply
  16. AnnieElf

    She reminds me of Maja perfume. Not the same image but reminds me nonetheless. My colors: Murky moving rapidly into sunlight.

    Reply
  17. cruststation

    Lovely, Brother Mathew is wonderful with his inspiring words, and for thinking of you on his walks. I love the poem on YouTube, it’s perfect for this painting and entry.

    Reply
  18. Franca Bollo

    Happy Birthday Choopie! And to Mark, too!
    Terteenie

    Reply
  19. stephanie

    Oh My, the words that run so smoothly and beautifully in this family!

    Reply
  20. Brother Mathew

    Thank you sister for the guest blog gift what fun – a birthday wish come true.
    Thank you to your faithful readers, I can’t hardly imagine critical words coming from any of them except maybe Orama. Orama,
    where are you darling?

    Reply
  21. tongue in cheek

    Dear Brother Mathew,
    Happy Birthday! Isn’t it suppose to be me giving you a gift for your birthday?
    Thank you for writing on Tongue in Cheek, it is like having a day off! Anytime you want to write let me know!
    Happy Birthday again younger brother! And Happy Birthday Mark too!

    Reply
  22. Yann

    Brother Matt,
    Happy Birthday!What are you doing looking around the campus???

    Reply
  23. Colette

    Matthew has a Latin soul.
    What this face says to me: “Yo soy la tierra de tus raices” (I am the earth that holds your roots).
    Many happinesses to you!

    Reply
  24. frieda

    What a talented brother…like sister, like brother! 🙂

    Reply
  25. sophie :)sophi

    everything about this
    wonderful post is a
    lustrous marvel to me –
    it inspired echos and
    now I have to go work
    on some poetry –
    thankyou –
    the video was charming and
    engaging!

    Reply
  26. herhimnbryn

    Happy Birthday Matthew.
    My portrait is painted with deep red earth, smokey grey eucalyptus leaves, bright blue sky and the white capped waves of the ocean………you did ask!

    Reply
  27. nel

    Such a beautiful post, it is genetic! And that portrait has so much depth. My portrait if painted today, would be grey.

    Reply
  28. diana

    another indicator as to how special you are corey… you have a brother who reads your blog and loves you so much he writes a soulful post on your blog. Mama amaro did a great job with her bambinos !!! xoxo

    Reply
  29. snowsparkle

    having a tough day at work…. so i rewarded my self for being such a “nose the grindstone” worker lately by sneaking a visit to your blog. ah!!! what a breath of fresh, creative air! i need to reward myself more often. life is too short not to read my favorite blogs! thank you for this gift!

    Reply
  30. tut-tut

    Wonderful, as always. My colors? New England in March.

    Reply
  31. Shelley

    Happy Birthday Matt,little brother of Corey. Is it Marks birthday also..? If so.. happy birthday to you brother Mark

    Reply
  32. Lisa Oceandreamer

    It is one thing to be taking a walk, looking at the scenery, thinking…but then to suddenly discover something that grabs your attention, so completely out of the ordinary is quite another. While many have walked by her over and over, while many probably thought it was a toss of yet another piece of paper – someone, Mathew chose to investigate. Seeing with what is now an obvious trait of having a keen eye for observation, he chose not to treat her as rubbish. It reads like a novel where the abandoned and damaged portrait becomes someone sought in real life. That perhaps she was someones subject and lives and breathes nearby. Will he ever find her? What will her name be? And if he does find her will she observe HIM as he did her portrait?
    The colors of my portrait would be swirls of various colors, you have to look deep to see them all separately.
    Love to you Corey and an appreciative nod to Mathew for that keen eye.
    XOXO

    Reply
  33. Gypsy Purple-Chamara

    Happy birthday to Matthew….with the same spirit…..

    Reply
  34. susanna

    Your brother reads your blog and provides post fodder?! Lucky you, Corey! And I can see creativity and storytelling runs in your family. 🙂

    Reply
  35. susanna

    Oh yes, Pecan is currently the colour in my life. That is, I painted my living room Pecan today. I may have made a mistake. Errr… ;p

    Reply
  36. kim

    you are surrounded by beautiful people:)

    Reply
  37. Amber

    Wonderful!
    Gosh, I love that campus. So, so love it.
    🙂

    Reply
  38. Renee

    I love pretty jewel colours, but dont know how a portrait would look in those colours. Something that looks happy and content. Inspiring family you have. x

    Reply
  39. Blue

    She is beautiful, as the words of your brother are too.
    Talent runs in your family, a genetic trait!!!
    xo

    Reply
  40. candy

    I would say you and your brother share more than just dna!

    Reply
  41. tinker

    What an intriguing find! I wonder who left the painting there – if they lost it or threw it away…and why and who…what a lot of questions this brings to mind!

    Reply
  42. Orama

    Choopie darling, You write like your breath smells.
    Tongue in Cheek responds:
    Orama is my brother…he is having fun with our brother.

    Reply
  43. Marilyn

    What a find. (One of my step-nieces is at Chico State.)

    Reply
  44. mystic rose

    that pic is intriguing.. but the video is even more so.. the words..

    Reply

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