Somewhere in the middle of summer, I was approached by a client interested in commissioning an art piece. They wanted to celebrate a loved one’s life milestone… by having an art piece made from a photo. Their partner had seen a Bighorn sheep while out skiing near the Continental Divide in Colorado, & had managed to get a photo on their phone before retreating down the mountain. It had been a magical moment, and even luckier that it was caught on camera.

I felt an instant connection & set to work on the project. The photo they provided was gorgeous but lacked some definition in the area of the trees. Having grown up with the experience of 11 years of summer camp in the Adirondacks, I knew that it would be crucial to capture the mountains at their best, by informing myself of their colors, shape & shadows. I researched and supplemented the photo with additional books, including an old book on the Sierra’s — and eventually a real-life trip to the Adirondacks to paint it in the mountains. Not every commission affords me the ability to travel, but this one seemed to demand it - and coincided with a brief vacation already on the calendar.

The importance of research cannot be overstated.. during my own research process, which I’ve refined over the years… I’ve learned how to really dig deep to get to the root of the client’s vision, & to understand the essence of their project, brand etc. (be it a large or small business, organization, fashion design concept, animal, book, story, etc). Sometimes the preparation involves trips, or sourcing of rare magazines, or mood boards - and preparatory sketches. Either way, I consider it essential to gather all the pieces, so that when I finally sit down to painting, the result is precise & exactly on target. There are many variables you can’t control with art (especially watercolor!), but you can do your best to set yourself up for success.

It’s always so exciting to be part of something bigger, to find new tools and ways of understanding/expressing another’s story…and I always love seeing the work be put to good use.

This project was quite a special one, & was very well received. I look forward to more collaborations!