Hello again. Told you I'd be back more often. This time it's because I have been desperate to share this since I finished it before Christmas. I was contacted late last year and commissioned to create a painting depicting the beach the client and her Husband had married. As soon as I saw the original photograph, I was excited to start. I had to complete another commission first and then got sidetracked creating paintings to appeal to the Christmas markets I was booked into, but eventually i began work. I was even delighted with the quality of the canvas I was using. A bespoke stretched canvas from www.jacksonart.com
Throughout the process, i had this almost-elation upon approaching the canvas. I'd come to the studio around 2-3am, brew some strong Cairngorm Leaf and Bean, and open up the iPlayer Radio app at Radio 6, and then spool to the original photograph. About 3 coffees later, I'd begin painting and work until about 8am. I worked this way for two months, and enjoyed every brushstroke. I feel my work has progressed and felt more natural and fluent with this piece.
When I'd completed it, the Client visited to give final approval, and then finally today I was lucky enough to see the Clients Husband open his gift and hang it on the wall. A lot of emotions are evident at those moments. Both mine and the person/s you are commissioned to, and to see his face light up as he recognised the location, and then relived those happy memories was so rewarding. It really reminded me of why I'm doing this. This really is the most honest work I've done in my life, painting, and when something you have created from a place of honesty and sincerity has an emotional impact and connection with others, it's the best reward of all.