With my February oil landscape commission finished today, I reflect on the beauty of being personally involved in the story and how it adds an extra special dimension to the painting. Last year 6 of my family members hiked the epic Tour du Mont Blanc in honour of our brother that had passed away there over 50 years ago. A sad and tragic story of an adventurous young man taken way too soon. We hiked for 10 days with his memory in our thoughts as we tackled steep rises and even steeper descents. It’s not an easy hike but the beauty of the dramatic mountains and the colours of the wild flower meadows seared our hearts with childlike wonder. So much has gone into this painting, all sorts of emotions into every layer. I am super proud of the finished piece, and will remember that knowing the story behind a clients request is just as important as the techniques within the painting. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DU4a_4PEUDr/?igsh=c25jd2Q2Y2RtdThr