Monday, May 25, 2009

Fly Away With Me

20x24" oil on canvas, SOLD

I just finished this commission last week for Gloria and Simon. Unlike most portrait painters, I gather a lot of personal details along with plenty of photographs. In fact, I like to begin the process with an “interview” of my subjects to get a feel for their relationship to each other, some quirky details about their history and a few clues about their life experiences. Like Gloria and Simon. They are world travelers. I worked with a photo taken of the two of them in Monet’s Garden and collaged in world maps as the leaves on the trees. In the background I draw and scratch in words and symbols that I have gathered from my interview. So the final painting holds many secrets that you can really only appreciate when viewed up close. Kinda like most people, huh? To check out these little secret messages there is a nifty magnifier on my website that gives you a clear picture of the backgrounds. If you are interested in commissioning me to do a portrait of you or your family, email me for my current price list.

2 comments:

Roxanne Steed said...

This is SOOO cool- and crazily romantic (is crazily a word???). Well anyways- just love this painting & can only imagine what a fun couple this really is!

Brenda York said...

Thanks, Roxanne and I think "crazily" is a word (at least in my vocab)! The photo really doesn't do justice to this painting--it's one of those that begs to be seen up close and personal.