Wico Hunkake Hihakab Mani

[Marvin Mattelson]

Congratulations John. What an epic undertaking. As they used to say in the TV commercials, " You've come a long way baby!" It looks great but I'd sure love to see some close-ups.

[John Reidy]

Thanks, Pat and Marvin. I do plan on some close-ups once I get it varnished and dried, maybe this week.

Missed you greatly at the conference. I don't know yet if I can make it to Philadelphia next year, but I hope to have one or two commissions to enter if I can get them done in time. I should have a pretty free hand with one. The other is a president of a university in robes against a deep, dark background. I hope I can persuade him into a lighter background.

Plus, my daughter is getting married in November in HAWAII, so I may be shy on the funds.

[John Reidy]

Here is the canvas of just the subject (client). I tweaked it photoshop to try to represent the painting as best I could. I hope to post more detailed shots later, as discussed.

[Alexandra Tyng]

John,

What a huge undertaking--literally as well as figuratively! I love the way your subject is portrayed, and the "addition" makes a unique diptych, especially as each panel is a different width corresponding to the size needed for each. IT's like a double portrait, really, except on is a portrait of a significant feature in the landscape. I would like to see some closeups.

[John Reidy]

Thank you, Alex. And, congratulations on your recent award as noted at the PSOA Conference last weekend.

I intend to add some close ups but I must warn all that this is more "painterly" than what I have done recently. The large canvas allowed me the mental freedom to be looser.

[John Reidy]

As promised, here are some close-ups, the head and hands especially. As I mentioned before, this is more "painterly" than most of my other commissions. I couldn't help myself. It was fun and seemed to fit the SPIRIT of the subject.