8×10 watercolor pencil on Crescent board.
This portrait of Saint Cecilia was painted for an upcoming collaborative show about the stories behind classic songs named for women.
Paul Simon wrote this song over a period of time, first coming up with rhythm, then the guitar part and melody finally the lyrics, which aren’t about anything or anyone in particular but rather a “little piece of magical fluff.”
He did not write the song about anyone specific, but was aware at the time that Cecilia was the Patron Saint of Music. The painting is loosely based upon her iconography.