Pre-School Graduate!

Colton graduated from Pre-school today! Did you even know they do that? Cap and gown and everything! He's with the big boys next year!

Summertime Bliss!

My kids love it when Summer hits! Our friends invited us over for a BBQ on Memorial Day...and they happen to have both an indoor/outdoor pool and a duck pond to play in. My kids were in heaven! There was also a very cool zip-line that my three year old daughter enjoyed for hours. What a fun day in the country! It brought back a lot of my own childhood memories of growing up on acres of land and a lake in the back yard!

"Memorial Day"

Happy Memorial Day! I must say, it's fun having a Dad in Politics. He's doing a fabulous job as our Oregon State Representative. Every week my Dad (Dennis Richardson) sends out an informative email newsletter to nearly 30,000 Oregonian citizens. He feels strongly that as Americans we need to be concerned with the issues going on around us. He states it best on his website:

"Without informed and involved citizens, self-serving special interest groups take control--and the taxpayers are left to pay the bill. Truly, “the cost of freedom is vigilance, involvement and commitment.”

You can sign up for his newsletter at: http://www.dennisrichardson.org

My Dad gave a powerful speech today at the "Veterans Memorial" in Central Point, OR. Afterwards, an elderly woman turned to me and said, "Oh! If I could just clone that man! Isn't he wonderful? We certainly could use more of him!" I nodded my head and said with a little pride, "Yep! That's my Dad!"

My twin sister, Valerie Harmon, and I couldn't resist getting a picture with the honored representative. :)

Back to Scottsdale!

I have a couple of clients I wanted to follow-up with after the "Celebration of Fine Art" show ended in March. I had met them during the show, but due to scheduling conflicts never got the chance to sit down with them to talk about their commissions. The three of us finally agreed upon a weekend that worked for all, and my husband and I flew back to Scottsdale to meet with them. What a fun weekend it turned out to be! Matt and I found an amazing deal online, and booked a suite at the "Intercontinental Montelucia Spa and Resort" nestled at the foot of picturesque Camel back Mountain. What a gorgeous place! We definitely needed more time to relax there. I especially wished I had time to explore their 32,000 square foot destination spa!

But the highlight of the trip was visiting with collectors: Margo and Jim Sulkosky and Jack Hallam. It was fun getting to know them better and discussing what they envision for their special commissions! It is also very helpful for me to see their home, and the space where they intend to hang my painting. I always take lots of pictures that will aid me in the painting process. Margo and Jim even gave me a couple of material swatches of their mo-hair chairs and carpet with the colors they want me to incorporate in their painting. I really love that! All those little details are helpful for me in creating their completely custom piece. Margo and Jim decided on a 60 x 48 Aspen Forest with a field of colorful wildflowers in the foreground. The painting will go in their formal dining room above the console and inside a large niche. It's a fantastic spot--perfect for one of my bold and dramatic Aspen pieces. Margo has been looking for months for just the right piece, and when she saw my work at the show, she knew instantly that she had found the perfect fit! Their house is one of the most interesting homes I have ever seen. All the walls are adobe plaster, with tones of taupe's and beige's. There are many rooms that branch off of various levels. I can't explain it, but it's very unique and grandiose! I'm honored they want one of my paintings to crown the focal point of their dining room! It was such fun visiting with them. They are the sweetest people you will ever meet. I can't wait to start on their painting!
Next, we met with Jack Hallam. Jack needs a painting for his master bedroom. He is in the process of remodeling the bedroom and master bath in the "French/ Provincial" style, so Jack has been thinking a lot about my lavender fields series. He is a man who knows exactly what he likes! He came back 3 times during the art show to look at my paintings. We perused my portfolio, and he picked several paintings that he responded to. We decided to go with a 60 x 36 painting of a lavender field with tons of wild flowers, some people walking down a path towards a French Chateau, with some rolling hills of the French countryside in the background. He knew he was asking for an uncommon amount of details, but I assured him the painting would be that much more fantastic! Oh, and the most interesting thing he wanted...something I've never had a request for...was Aspen trees in the foreground! That is an unusual combination--Aspen trees mixed with French landscape...but hey, it's Art! And why not? It will probably turn out pretty neat. I may even get commissions to do the same thing after others see it. This will be interesting...

Aspen Giclée hanging in Summer Home

What a fantastic room! A couple of posts back, I mentioned that a couple from Chicago had ordered my "Symphony of Color III" Giclée. They had recently bought a summer home in Lake Geneva Wisconsin, and needed something for above the great room mantel. Barbara was kind enough to send me pictures of the Giclée hanging above the fireplace. But what a fireplace! It spans 2 stories up! And the wall color is the perfect compliment to the colors in the Giclée. Great choice on artwork. This is what Barbara had to say about it:

"The sunroom looks out on a golf course which in the fall echoes your Symphony of Color. It is like we brought it inside! Just beautiful. Our pictures don't do justice to your work....."

"Silver Sentinels" 60 x 36 original

This is a painting I've wanted to do for a long time--a close-up of just aspen trunks. I got a little carried away with the thick texture--it's more like a sculpture than a painting! The canvas is quite heavy, in fact. This piece is a bit more "contemporary" than my norm--almost abstract seeming. There is also a little detail that I added to one of the trunks....

"Tuscan Meadow III" Giclée on canvas

In January, I received an email from a woman who was interested in my "Tuscan Meadow III" painting. This is what she said:

Hello! We have seen and love your Tuscan Meadows III piece. I think the original might be out of our price range, so I was wondering the price of the giclée in 36" x 60". We live in Texas, and my husband and I find your artwork beautiful and very unique. I wish I had some artistic talent!

Thanks!

A Giclée is a great way to go, if one is working with a budget! My limited edition prints on canvas are generally about 1/3 the cost of an original painting. We corresponded a few times back and forth, and in one of the emails, she told me that her husband had actually printed off a picture of "Tuscan Meadow" and gave it to her on her birthday. This Giclée was meant to be her 40th birthday present! I was deeply honored.

This was her response when it arrived:

Jennifer,

Just wanted to let you know that we got the giclée and love it!!! It is hanging in our bedroom, and looks like it was made to go there! I will send you a picture in a few days. My husband and I agreed that we need more of your paintings, so we will definitely be collectors.

Thanks again for everything!