Douglas MacDiarmid has painted many wonderful portraits over the years, and this one of his mother Mary is among the most personal.

Mother and son shared deep, heart-to-heart conversations about life, the universe, his future, while he painted her portrait at home in Auckland. He was home from his first trip overseas and struggling to find his direction.

Mary had wonderful changeable eyes that appeared blue in some light, green in others.

The cliffs of Takapuna are the background of this painting, literally on his parent’s doorstep during the years they lived on the North Shore in a house with a rooftop terrace, after moving to Auckland from Taihape.



This artwork remains part of the artist’s personal collection in Paris.

Portraits by Douglas MacDiarmid

Douglas has painted hundreds of portraits during his career.

Take a look at a few we have featured:

• A fresh take on family, featuring Douglas’ parents and their sibling
• In his own image – how Douglas MacDiarmid sees himself
• Self-portrait on wet paving stones

Do you have a portrait painted by Douglas MacDiarmid in your collection? Contact the MacDiarmid Arts Trust so we can update our records.