Over the years I've completed several commissions for people worldwide who had reached out to me with treasured memories of their loved ones - many who had passed away. The art that I created held an emotional connection for them...in the moment they were either gifted the artwork or looked at it for the first time. When I was able to be there in the moment they received my creation, the air felt electric.
Along the way, I learned a lot of technical things from some of those commissions...the moment in time they showed me in a photo didn't always translate to me the lifetime of looks or nuances of their loved one. I learned to look for that spark in a photo that I felt I could capture for my client. The clarity of the reference photo was utmost importance...I had a couple commissions where my heart believed I could relay the image and bring them to life...my head said no, it's not enough. I learned there are times I needed to decide which to listen to!
Then there are these two boxes containing prints that were shipped a couple weeks ago - one a gift and the other for my client. An emotional connection was formed with an image in my own work and these pieces have become a treasured part of a loved one's story.
Although there is much more to this heartfelt tragedy I will not share it since it is not mine to tell. However, I do want to share that as an artist and human being it is very meaningful to be invited to be a part of these emotional connections with my art. There are no words to fully describe feelings of having an original work speak to a viewer in such a positive way and form a bridge between loved ones. I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity my art has to be woven into this powerful narrative in a healing way.