THOSE who know him well will agree there is only one Joe Rose, but these days many could be forgiven for thinking there is a double about his home community in Chester.
For the man they call ‘Mr Blacon’ has been brought to life through the eyes of local artist John Paskin who is responsible for creating the incredibly lifelike portrait of Joe, chairman of the Blacon Community Trust and community stalwart, aged 85.
Mr Paskin, 72, who also previously painted a portrait of the late and popular Blacon resident, Billy Large, decided to paint Joe after coming face to face with him at a community meeting where residents were invited to talk about life during the Second World War. A copy of the portrait now hangs in the headquarters of the Blacon Community Trust, Blacon Point Road, for all to see
John said: “As a Blacon resident myself I had heard a lot and read a lot about Joe in the local press. I knew he was popular and had proved a huge influence over the years.
“I had not met him until that meeting and as soon as I saw him the first thing I thought was, ‘this is a man with character, the face says it all’. Those who know him will know I am not far wrong.”
John, whose talents are mainly self taught following a love affair with art spanning over 55 years, approached Joe there and then and the pair agreed that the portrait should be done.
Incredibly the pastel based portrait itself took just under two weeks to complete and for once Joe was lost for words.
“I was speechless when I saw it, and truly delighted, not to mention flattered. I wish to say a big thank-you to John for this opportunity,” Joe said.
John said: “I am pleased with the portrait, many say there is a great likeness. Portrait work is probably the hardest to complete because it has to be accurate, otherwise you lose the likeness.”
John, a retired pharmaceutical foreman who lives on Blacon Avenue with his wife Barbara with whom he has four grown up children and eight grandchildren, said: “They say a picture paints a thousand words and that is certainly true in the case of Joe. I look for character in a face and Joe certainly has that. The face tells a story, and Joe’s features are very telling. They tell the story of someone who is warm, understanding with a very likeable persona, a charming person. That indeed is true.”
The portrait of Joe will soon feature in an exhibition of the Grosvenor Art Society, for which John is chairman. The exhibition will be held from Monday, April 16-19, at Upton Golf Club, Heath Lane, Upton, Chester. Admission is free. The Grosvenor Art Society was established in 1950 and has between 300-400 members.
John will also feature his works at up and coming exhibitions at the Holy Trinity Church, Norris Road, Blacon, and at the Blacon Festival this summer.