[Janel Maples]

Kim and Alexandra,

Thank you so much for your positive remarks. I really did enjoy this challenge and working with Cate and her mother. Kim, you are right, she is a great client. When she first told me what she had in mind for the portrait I thought "Oh Boy" but once I started making the crown of fresh flowers and working with Cate to get the reference photo I knew this was going to be fun.

Fun, but challenging.

The idea for the background was taken from a set of prints that they own of a wall in Italy. When I visited the home all I could remember was that it looked like a fresh batch of guacamole. Cate's portrait was suppose to hang near that print, but when I presented the portrait to the mother and father they decided to hang it in their formal living room instead. This was quite a boost for me because they took down an original painting that I knew they loved and replaced it with mine. I was thrilled.

I am sorry that I do not have any close ups to post. I have already delivered this portrait.
The flowers are very impressionistic, as is the background.

Thanks again, I really appreciate it.