A Small Part of a Family Legacy
Over the summer, one of my collectors commissioned two paintings of bulls as gifts for family members. He asked for my address so he could "mail me a catalog" for reference. I had no idea what he meant, but I figured I'd find out soon enough. Several days later, I received this:
It was indeed a catalog of Black Angus bulls! Inside, there were details about the individual bulls, some with photos, plus two or three photos at the end showing Black Angus cows in the field. I was still confused.
It turns out that my collector's cousins own Robert Elliott and Sons Angus. Robert Elliott started this Angus farm in 1935, and it has been in business for 91 years! To commemorate this, my collector asked me to select and paint two bulls from the catalog and included some photos he took of the farm itself.
I'll admit, I was a little worried about how my colorful, contemporary style might be received, but I put my heart and soul into the work as always. I composed the paintings to mimic how the bulls appear in the catalog and included their brands to connect specifically with the family business. Then I added unique details from the photos my collector sent to bring in the warmth and history of the family farm.
About a month after I shipped the paintings, my collector texted to tell me how much his cousins loved the paintings. He sent this photo as well.
Wow! I felt so surprised and honored to see my painting hanging on the wall of the family home! And when I say "family home," I mean the remodeled log cabin originally built in 1827 on the farmland the family purchased in 1807. That's a lot of history! And it may sound funny, but through my painting, I feel like I'm now a tiny part of it.
I'm incredibly grateful for all my collectors, whether they've purchased an original painting, commissioned a pet portrait or painting, or picked up a print at an art festival. Heck, I'm grateful for people who tell me they love my work, even if they don't buy a thing. In each case, a neuron fires - a little "spark" that creates a connection between us. Each time that person looks at the print or painting, or sees my work online, or simply remembers a piece, a spark of my soul is there again. When I think of all those connections, all the people who spent their money or took the time to speak to me, it's absolutely astounding, and I'm truly grateful. 🙏 🥹 💗
"Nature speaks to us in many ways. I paint the conversation."
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