This painting was a surprise birthday gift. A very thoughtful husband came up with the idea of commissioning me to create a painting just for his wife's 40th birthday.
Between the two of us, we came up with the concept of a painting inspired by Sky Top Orchard http://skytoporchard.com/ in Flat Rock, NC. This was both a place I had been wanting to paint, and it's also a place that his family had visited together so it has a special memory for both of us.
The goal of this piece was to create a bright, cheerful painting that would be hung in the playroom area of their family room. It needed to be something that wouldn't clash with the toys, and be ok for both boys and girls.
I was lucky enough to be there for the unveiling of the painting. What fun it was to see the birthday girl's reaction.
I recently realized that one of the main reasons I paint it to make people happy. I think I did my job! Here's a quote from an e-mail she sent me later that week...
"I still can't get over the wonderful surprise party and all the visitors, and of course that magnificent painting!!!!!! I keep going downstairs and staring at it! It is just what I would have chosen, my favorite of all I've seen (and I like them all!). Your mission was successfully accomplished!"
