David Hockney Left Behind Something Better Than His Paintings

And it’s free

Like he just stopped by. Photo by author, painting by husband

“Sorry to hear about David.” “I’m sure you are sad about the Hockney news today. Hope all is okay.” “I’m so sorry. You must be very upset.” (*nonmember=click*)

I received so many condolences for David Hockney’s death that I’m waiting for the call from the lawyer to tell me how much I’ve inherited.

So far no ringy dingy.

It’s true I adore Hockney. Wasn’t always the case. When I went to his retrospective at the Pompidou Centre in 2017, I walked through the rooms and went — WOW. Oh, Davey baby, where have I been all your life?

The photo collages, the impossible tones in acrylic, the films moving down the same road every season, the iPad doing and undoing the image. The joy. The zest. The riot of colors.

Then the universe smiled big time. I discovered an inside lane. I mean, the chances are? A friend of a friend works for one of his galleries. Not a dealer. A guy in the warehouse. Uncle Dave (As a friend and I call him) came to sign lithographs a few times. It was twice removed, but I got to hear about him firsthand. Uncle Dave did not disappoint.

They all had lunch together. He talked about his latest project — Bigger &. Closer (not smaller and farther away). Opened his computer and showed them.

Another time, he demonstrated how he worked on the iPad. (Can you imagine? A Hockney appearing before your eyes?!) Was genuinely chuffed when my friend said — “I can see your painting hand in the iPad work.”

And, my favorite, when they served tea (after sushi and beer). My friend asked if he wanted sugar. “Oh no,” Hockney said with a big smile. “I’m sweet enough.”

You just want to pinch his cheeks.

Now, about his death…

Our philosophical Uncle Dave Screenshot by author of public showing in Seoul

Thus ends Bigger & Closer (not smaller and farther away).

Uncle Dave was okay with death. Talking about his 2000–2025 retrospective at the Fondation Louis Vuitton last year, he said — “They came to me about two years ago. I started planning it, but I thought I probably wouldn’t be here.”

Well, life had other plans.

“We made it!” he said when entering the museum. (And was allowed to smoke throughout the visit. He was a rebel smoker who outlived four of his doctors.)

He vowed to keep doing art until he dropped, and so he did.

“All I need is the hand, the eye, and the heart. I don’t even need feet or legs! Haha…. I think that’s true for all art. I mean, I walk slower, I have a bit of difficulty moving around. But that’s not affecting my hand, my eye. and my heart.” David Hockney

Then he simply passed in his sleep. What an amazing soul

Funnily, I’m not sad. He met life on his terms and lived what he loved. He was engrossed by beauty, color, and all possibilities. Always seeking new ones. Always fascinated. That’s his true legacy.

“If you see the world as beautiful, thrilling, and mysterious, as I think I do, then you feel quite alive.” David Hockney

So, here’s my homage to him. I plan to tap into his creative spirit to fuel my own. Keep the wonder and joy of doing it. Wrap myself in awe about being here. As he did.

“I can get excitement watching rain on a puddle. And then I paint it. Now, I admit, there are not too many people who would find that exciting. But I would. And I want life thrilling and rich. And it is. I make sure it is.” David Hockney

If you look at almost anything natural and think — how did this come to be All of a sudden, the world is incessantly awe-inspiring. Find the beauty. It is there.

“I am constantly preoccupied with how to remove distance so that we can all come closer together, so that we can all begin to sense we are the same, we are one.” David Hockney

Not a bad thing to aim for. That’s why I write. So I’ll write some more. Maybe finish that frickin’ novel.

I mean, if he can create 50 paintings in his mother’s attic and turn it into one HUGE painting — *Bigger Trees near Warter *(4.6 x 12.2 meters/15x 40 feet) in six weeks, what’s my excuse?

None.

I’m sure he’d be happy with that. So here’s a toast to Uncle Dave, may we all…

“Laugh a lot. It clears the lungs.”

And remember.

Hockney’s forever message to us Image by Author Inspired by Uncle Dave