a very special gift

I sometimes give paintings as a gift. This takes some courage because it can feel a bit forward to expect someone to hang your art on their wall but for a special occasion it can be a perfect fit. In this case, when my cousin got engaged at the top of Mt Arab, I knew the perfect wedding gift for her and her fiance.

Years ago, my cousin took this photo from the top of the mountain at sunset. I remember asking her if I could paint it one day and she sent me the photo. But I never wanted to paint it. I thought that the photo captured it perfectly and I didn't want to mess it up.

Then she met her fiancé, a smart man who knows a gem when he sees one. He adores my cousin and they both love spending time at our family camp at Mt Arab lake. When I found out they got engaged, at the top of the mountain at sunset, I knew I had to face my fear of painting from her beautiful photo.

I wanted to paint it on a mid-sized canvas. Not too big but but enough to stand on it's own. I knew I had to get the shape of the lake exact but I was free to be a little more suggestive with the trees and hills. I started with a magenta underpainting.

And many layers later, I am considering it finished. They don't have a spot for it yet so I have time to change my mind.

I hope they feel the love and excitement of their engagement every time they see it. It's such a special spot and I'm so happy to capture it for them in this way. Love you guys!