Tuesday, May 20, 2014

"The Gift"

 I finally finished and presented my friend's daughter with her college graduation gift!  I was so nervous that she might not like it!  So hard for me to do a piece of art for someone!  I worked on this piece for weeks! Until the very last minute I wasn't sure if I was even going to give it to her! So concerned that she may not like it! 
Anyway I painted this scene over and over so many times.  I even painted four different paintings. She loves Boston!  So I decided to do a version of my "Boston From East Boston Series!" Over and over again!
#1 "The Gift" Acrylic Canvas 30" x 24"
First stage of the gift!
Love all stages of painting!  I especially love covering the white canvas with some paint first and fast!  Then usually I can "see" the painting emerge from the canvas!
(Unfinished)

#1 "The Gift" Acrylic Canvas 30" x 24"
So very happy to see the skyline appear!  Love this part!
(Unfinished)


#1 "The Gift" Acrylic Canvas 30" x 24"

Happy with the way this one turned out!
(Finished)

#2 "The Gift" Acrylic Canvas 14" x 24"
Like this one also.  Maybe too small?

(Finished)

#3 "The Gift" Acrylic Canvas 30" x 24"
The ecstasy is worth the agony!

(Finished)

#4 "The Gift" Acrylic Canvas 30" x 24"

I love the way my mind works.  Well, most of the time!

(Finished)

(Oh!  Should I tell you which one I gave her?)


(Another "Oh!" She loved her "Gift!")

18 comments:

  1. Bonjour cher ami,

    Ce petit billet est très touchant. Il témoigne votre grande générosité.
    D'autant plus qu'il n'est jamais simple de peindre pour quelqu'un de cher. On voudrait que l'oeuvre soit plus qu'à la hauteur de notre espérance. C'est aussi prendre conscience que notre ressenti doit rejoindre le sentiment de rendre heureux une personne unique... en atteignant la perfection. Une alliance délicate et risquée !
    Je pense que vous avez réussi un sacré challenge.
    Je suis certaine que cette amie a dû être énormément émue...

    Merci de partager avec nous la progression de l'ensemble de votre travail. Je trouve cela très intéressant... Toutes ces couleurs qui naissent et qui font connaissance...


    Gros bisous ♡

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    1. Bonjour Martine!
      Merci beaucoup!
      Thank you very much for visiting my blog and writing such a wonderful and very supportive comment! I very much appreciated your thoughtful words! You made my day! ( I love your blog Martine! I love your wonderful art and your many beautiful photos and text!!)
      Merci beaucoup ami!
      Gros bisous aussi!
      Michael aka Michel

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  2. OKAY Michael!!! I need to know which one you gave her...I have to admit I really love the green City...the one before the last one! It's absolutely beautiful... however, I'm sure she'll like any of these. Love the looseness of each one.

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    1. Hello Hilda! Thank you so much for writing to me! I am so happy you like my work! Number 3 is the painting I gave her! I am not sure why I picked that one! Maybe "eenie meenie minie moe?" You are the best! Her mother mentioned to me later that she loved them all equally! I was very pleased and relieved!
      Take care buddy!
      Michael

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  3. Hi Michael,
    I love seeing your process, beautiful way to create atmosphere with the initial washes! Beautiful bright colors in the 1st painting, I love the drips which add a modern and loose feel also in #3. The second painting is smaller but has great texture and I love the blue hues. The last painting has beautiful painterly textures and a mysterious drama. All have your signature Michael energy and love of Boston! She will be forever moved looking at any of these gorgeous works!

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    1. Hello Celia!
      I am so happy to hear from you! Seeing that you are back painting and blogging makes me think you are on the mend? I hope so! Thank you for your fantastic comments! I love the fact that you mentioned "mysterious drama" in your comments! That made me so excited! Such a wonderful compliment! Thank you Celia so very much! I gave her # 3! I am not sure why I picked that one! I am so glad she liked it!
      Take care my on the mend great watercolorist!
      Your buddy!
      Michael

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    2. °3 is a great choice!
      Thank you for asking Michael. I'm much better,not yet 100% but I'm almost there. It has been a tough time and I am very grateful for friends like you! :-)

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    3. Thank you Celia! Number three seems to be the people's choice! I am so fortunate that so many care!
      I am sorry your journey has been tough! I am so very glad that you are almost there! Hang in there buddy! Art blogging friendships are so very nice! I am also very grateful!
      Be well! Soon!

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  4. I like them all. I can imagine how nervous you were--art is such a personal thing. I bet she would love any of these, however, your love for the city is there in all of them. My favorite is #3 :)

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    1. Thank you Celeste! So very nervous! Thanks for your validation! It is so hard to give someone something that I poured my heart and soul into! I am never sure if others like my work or even get it! I am thrilled that you and our other blogging buddies write such great comments! Always makes my day!
      I did give her #3! Maybe deep down that was my favorite too!
      Thanks Celeste! I love your art buddy! Trying so hard to keep up with my visits and comments! You are so talented and so prolific! Bravo my friend!
      Take care!
      Michael

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  5. fabulously loose and well constructed. I am partial to #'s 1 & 3.

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    1. Hello My Massachusetts / Nova Scotia Art Buddy!
      Great hearing from your Mary! Thank you so much for visiting my little blog and writing great comments! Number 3 was the winner!
      (Oh we have a common art buddy, Lisa Daria! She is the so wonderfully talented artist who got me art blogging!)
      Your Bay State Buddy!
      Michael

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  6. Please tell us which one you chose! I am especially in love with version # 3 as, for me, it seems as if Boston is pulling together, emerging into a bright future, reaching toward that magnificent sky. Its wonderful to see your process and take a peek inside the workings of your wonderfully creative mind! Whichever one you chose to give - what an unforgettable graduation gift!

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    1. Okay Susan! You are so off the chart talented. I am trying so hard to keep up with your wonderful posts and great art! I check you out daily and always try to get back to comment! I am a couple behind but I am catching up!
      Thank you so much for visiting my blog and always writing great and supportive comments. Makes me so very happy! I guess #3 is the people's choice. Remarkable that is the one I gave her! Your beautiful words make me so happy! "My wonderful creative mind!" Thank you! I so love to paint from my heart and soul. Sometimes things happen and when they do it is thrilling! I am so glad you "see" what I am trying to do!
      Thank you Susan!
      (Oh, sometime back, you finally got your snow! A bit late but when I saw the storm on the news I thought of you! Hope all went okay for you!)
      Take care and thank you soooo much!
      Your Art Buddy!
      Michael

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  7. I thinks she would be happy with any of these since each is great!! #1 has the vibrancy of color which makes the city feel energetic. #2 has a soft mood and the panoramic format is a favorite of mine. #3 (which I think is my favorite) has the wonderful spring greens that give the cityscape a welcoming, promising feel. #4 with the darker colors has that feeling of evening as the city quiets down and a promising night will start to unfold. What a wonderful gift any of these would be!!! Please let us know which one you selected.

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    1. Hello Joan!
      Great to hear from you! Thank you for always writing great comments and your great support! Makes a difference and I appreciate it! Number 3 is the one I gave! So very interesting that all our art blogging buddies chose that one! I love all the wonderful things you see in my art! Thank you so much for sharing with me!
      She was very happy and I was very relieved!
      Take care Joan!
      Michael

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  8. Hi Michael, sorry it's taken me so long to comment on your blog. Even though I've come in after the denouement and already know which one you gave her, I also think number three is the best of the four. I love the techniques, textures and colours you achieved in all of them but somehow number three captures a great city mood. The greeny blue tones topped off with the smatterings of gold give the city a wonderful vibrancy. I can see why she loved it!!
    I'm just about to check out your latest post!
    Your art cobber,
    Wendy

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    1. Ola amigo!
      Merci beaucoup!
      Hey Mate!
      Hi Wendy!
      Always wonderful to see your name up on the screen! I am glad you also like #3! I am glad anybody likes any of them! Such great support! Thank you for all the wonderful things you see in my art! Nice!
      I love seeing the word "cobber!" Much of the time my eyes play tricks on me and I see "cobbler!"
      So I am your art cobber and art cobbler! (When I was a little boy every Boston neighborhood had its own cobbler shop! We use to bring our shoes there to get them repaired! Talk about recycling! I can still smell the leather and more from so many years ago!)
      Ate logo Wendy!
      Miguel aka Michael Who Wishes He Could Speak Many Languages!

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