Creating Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Friends – I created this piece right out of college in 1996 for a prominent Dallas businessman’s 50th birthday surprise. His wife had some very definite ideas that she wanted in the painting. She requested to show two figures in the eyes, a person flying through the air, stars, a window, a sun, water, swirls, and a mask. I had never created anything quite like it, and honestly, I wasn’t sure what in the world I would end up with. I was totally out of my comfort zone creatively but she thought out every detail and helped me along the way. She even asked me to make sure I used a lot of red in honor of her husband’s love for his red Lamborgini sports car. Needless to say, the pressure was on, and I probably agonized too much over it. It was made with a black sharpie on marker paper and then xeroxed onto card stock. I used acrylic ink to achieve the watercolor look. While I made several copies, I promised to only keep two copies. One was kept for her and the other for me. I destroyed all the other pieces per her request. The hoops I had to jump through to make this one of a kind piece make me tired just typing this. However, the couple was very pleased, and it really was a joy to be entrusted with the project. These are fun memories of living the life of a young Dallas artist, and I hope it inspires you to create something with ingredients that you would never have put together. Hugs to you! Deana (Dee-na)