This was a commission I recently finished. Long ago I posted about beginning a watercolor painting (You can read the post here) by making small studies to find where you want to go with the work.

This painting was a commission from my Dad, and he wanted the house in the background; the photo was taken in my grandparent’s driveway, and my mom, my dad, and I  still long for that little home in the desert where we were all so happy. But young folk have to go out on their own, and in the reflected landscape in the windows I’ve tried to capture the limitless future that all young people feel they have.

The tiny black and white photo of my mom and her very first car has lived in my dad’s wallet for nearly 60 years. My parents often drift dreamily into rhapsodies about this car; I always ask, why’d you get rid of it? My mom shakes her head and says, “you know your father.” He just looks at his plate and grins. I’m awfully glad they kept each other. They are a wonderful model for a long term, romantic relationship.

These are the original studies.

If you’ve got an old photo you’d like interpreted with watercolor, contact me at  mockingbirdatmidnight  at  gmail.com  and we’ll talk about a commission. They make wonderful gifts and remembrances. You won’t be sorry.