Last weekend I delivered a commissioned piece to a client (and now friends) in Carmel/Pebble Beach. This was a difficult piece for many reasons. The painting is of three sisters, two of whom died when they were teenagers. It was commissioned as a gift to Mary Claire, the third sister in the painting. Obviously, I wanted to make sure I honored them all, but at the same time I was experimenting a lot with new techniques and being a lot less literal than I usually am with a painting. The photo I had as reference was very small and cropped differently from how I wanted to compose the painting, so I had to make a lot up.
Her husband Michael had asked me to unveil the painting at her birthday party. I was a little nervous about that (terrified, actually). Fortunately, it went well. She loved the painting.
Michael surprised Mary Claire with a painting for her birthday….
MC, Michael,& me…MC is taking another peak at the painting
Talking technique…
Birthday Party day 2… friends and family gathered at Mary Claire & Michael's and we hung the painting.