Dad's Christmas Present






"Sailing Lessons"

11" x 14"

Oil Pastel on Paper

2010   

I have wanted to write about this for some time, but since it was a Christmas present, I had to keep it under wraps.  I decided that it was time to make an artwork for my parents.  I had some pretty good photo reference shots from our trip to visit them last June, so I chose a shot of Will and his Grandpa prepping the sailboat for an outing.  The original photo has all the other boats in the marina as a background, which I felt was just too busy and detracted from the simple message of grandfather/grandson bonding.  I used some artistic license and replaced the marina full of masts with a serene forest.

I started this project before Halloween and finished it on December 23rd!  None too soon!  I didn't frame it because Mom and Dad flew into town for Christmas, and I didn't want to make it too hard to take back home with them.  Unfortunately, they'll have to frame it themselves.

Dad seemed happy when he opened it.  I hope so!  Will wants one, now.  I told him that he'd have to wait for Grandpa to give it to him.







    

unfinished...