Thanks everybody!

(Mike, Sammamish is a suburb of Seattle. They like long unpronounceable place names around here.)

Yea!
 

WONDERFUL! GO Michelle! Can't wait to read all about it when you win!

Congratulations Michele, in any case it is a great success, best of luck
Ilaria

MIchele, this is SO cool! I can hardly wait to hear what happens!

I just found out today that I got the commission. I flew to Nevada last week and had dinner with the Governor and First Lady and then stayed overnight in the Governor's Mansion. The Arts Council (the agency that's organizing the process) called me today to say that they'd like me to create his official portrait.

AWESOME!

I am so proud of you!!

Ripping good news!
 

Michele,

Terrific! You had some heavy duty competition as well!

I understand the State of Nevada has a 38 page contract (and I thought the Washington State one was long at 12 pages!) And all the paperwork needs to get done over the next two weeks -- while I just happen to be away on vacation to the east coast. Guess we'll be FedEx-ing and faxing stuff between Nevada and New York, D.C. and Baltimore as I travel around. It will be a "working vacation" for sure.

Here we are in front of the Governor's Mansion last Thursday. He'll be a handsome subject to paint.

Much deserved Michele, Congratulations.

Told You So!!!!!
 

To quote myself, "Told you so." This is one time when the "I told you so." isn't obnoxious. Congratulations! Your talent and business strategies are successful. You will be brilliant.