Basking in the Sun in Ohio

I've known Sue and Bruce for several years now. I worked with Bruce doing Organization Development work (awesome job!). Then several years later drove across the country with Sue when I relocated from South Carolina back to Washington State. She helped me drive, and of course helped with my little buddy Cooper (yes, I do pet portrait commissions). They were also gracious enough to include me in their Christmas family dinner when I was living in South Carolina and away from family for the first time ever.

They'd been thinking of purchasing a piece of my art for awhile, and on a recent visit to Washington State they ended up settling on one of my recently "re-discovered" pieces. I had just asked for suggestions for a title for the piece on my Facebook page, which I do often, so Sue got to pick the name of the piece from all the suggestions. Fun! We then went to my favorite place for matting and framing and I helped her pick them out; something I love to do and offer to local folks who purchase. A few days later we carefully packed up her new purchase and shipped it off to Ohio, where it arrived safe and sound and graces the wall of their dining room.

Here is "Basking in the Sun" with its new owner, right before we packed it up for cross country shipping. It sure is a bright, bold piece and I think the bright, bold matting really sets it off.

So, where did this painting come from before it went into the “vault” only to be re-discovered recently? Well, unlike many of my paintings, I knew it was going to be a floral before I started (usually I just start painting and see what happens). ;-) I painted it while on vacation in Florida some years back, which I tend to do a lot…paint while travelling. The prominent red/orange stem you see in the upper left area of the vase was a goof, but I rolled with it. I like to call these goofs happy accidents or “flopportunities.” They often become the best part of the painting.

Thank you Sue and Bruce! So glad you are enjoying it on your dining room wall!

In gratitude,

Chris Blevins, The Unexpected Artist

P.S. To see all the pictures that go with this blog post, click the link included here.

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