Thank you all so very much for your beautiful compliments on my sketchbook last week. You all make me stand a little straighter and feel a little braver. Thank you.
I completed this commission about a week ago. Commissions always tend to stress me out a bit as I am sure they do for most artists. The patron wanted me to interpret a special place in Vermont for her. She used to rent a carriage house there quite often. In doing so, she became close to the mistress of the premises-an unlikely friendship, but a strong and beautiful one. Her dog passed away while she was there one season and is buried on the property. She never returned to the carriage house after that loss. Of course this place holds many dear memories. So taking this information, some photographs and directions to use a Monet-inspired palette, I made several studies trying out all kinds of ideas and compositions. Finally I made this painting.
I always see the mistakes, but she was very happy and touched and for that I am humbled and grateful.
What challenges are you taking on lately?
The painting is too large to fit on any home scanner, so please excuse the fuzziness. Can you spot the two dogs?
Have a wonderful weekend my friends. And again thank you all for your incredible support and kindness.


