I recently completed my first commissioned painting.  Hooray for me! 

 

It was a challenging and invigorating experience, one that I hope to repeat in the future.

 

The commission was requested by a long-time friend and previous collector of two other of my paintings.  He wanted an image of his favorite fly fishing spot, Fall River in northern California.  To begin, he presented a photograph showing the scene and we briefly discussed the serenity of the location and what was important to him.  I indicated that my process is not to simply copy a photograph but interpret the image in such a manner so that my collectors can fully experience the location.

 

I was nervous about accepting the commission for a couple of reasons.  First, I normally paint landscapes of places that I have previously visited and Fall River is a two-day drive from home that would be difficult to get to, even if I had the time to travel.  Second, I was apprehensive about adequately capturing my friend’s feelings or experiences, his “expectations” of the place, on canvas.

 

I admit to struggling to overcome these obstacles.  What should I paint?  How should I interpret the image?  Will the painting be acceptable and meet my friend’s expectations?

  

To answer, I researched the location on the internet and garnered as many photographs as could be found.  I sketched… and sketched… and sketched some more.

 

Finally, after relaxing and much quiet reflection, I determined that the painting must come from inside me.  Like all of my work, I must “feel” the location and “know” what needs to be said about the place.  These cannot be from someone else.  The experiences, if I were to adequately share them, must be mine.

 

In the end, I relied on my own personal experience.  Previous travels have taken me to some extremely beautiful, and often remote, locations.  Several locations have been similar to what I was seeing in the photographs of Fall River.  To that end, I immersed myself in the senses of the location.

 

I am not a fly fisherman but I imagined what it must be like to stand waist deep in the smooth waters, listening to the stillness, casting my filament line in great arcs through the morning stillness and hearing the soft “splash” as it touches lightly to the surface.  The sounds of the gurgling river gliding slowly by; the crisp stillness of the early morning air; frogs croaking in the shoreline reeds; reflections in the water; all were brought into focus and I knew what needed to be painted.

 

After a few more sketches, I submitted my three favorites.  One was selected and the painting came together with minimal revisions. 

 

My friend saw the finished painting for the first time this week and it was a great success.  I provided him the opportunity to name the painting and “Morning on the Fall” was complete.  His joy of fly fishing showed in his eyes as he described his favorite spot.

 

Did I learn anything?  Would I accept another commission?  You bet!  The process of visualizing an unvisited location was very rewarding and one that I look forward to undertaking again very soon!