At first glance this might appear to be a very silly and clumsy painting but it is actually very sweet and tender. My sbmission for Illustration Friday's " clumsy" theme is " a celestial life." I painted this in August of 1992 for friend Tracy Walsh because she was about to marry her longtime love Shep Lonsdale. Tracy loved my art and has been quite a wonderful and supportive collector of my work. When she came to me and asked me to do her invitations I was happy and tickled because this was my first wedding card. I have done quite a few now but this was my very first one and she wanted a child like image using all the things she loves! This is my favourite kind of client, someone that tells me what they enjoy and I get to do whatever I want :D Tracy wanted the sea, the stars, the moon, and the feeling of infinity, love and the universe. Not your traditional invite to be sure, oh and the best part she wanted all valgal colours featuring their dog Jade. In order to make multiples I had the image offset printed and then I made cotton rag paper in my studio, dyed to compliment the painting and I added this beautiful old glitter to the batches to make it sparkle. We printed the typeface on a see through vellum and it was a limited edition art card for all the guests. I framed up some for her bridesmaids gifts and the gift that went to the person that married them. The funny thing about the man that performed the wedding Cliff Potts, he is Johns best friend for 40 years but I did not know him then and had not yet met John. I live on a street with 3 houses now and he lives in one of these houses and has been my neighbor for 13 years! Tracy is a travel agent, her mom was a very well known British travel agent who's clients were Elton John etc. and Shep is a musician and was in the band Gaelic Storm which you might have seen in the movie Titanic. When Leonardo Dicaprio takes Kate Winslet downstairs to where the real people are hanging out, this is the band that is playing. Shep is a very cool dude and Tracy is a very cool lady. I am happy to say they are enjoying their marriage to this day :)
btw: The wedding was at the Hotel Bel Air and it was the best wedding I have ever been too. They have swans floating in ponds there!valerie walsh 1992
31 comments:
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend. =)
You have the best stories, Val! (And I wish you'd done MY wedding invitations.)
Beautiful and charming and sweet, as always!
a : )
Not celestial.
This is an enchanted dream again.
Beautiful work.
:-)
Sweet! (I always love the stories behind your work, too.)
wow - great work; great story
Hey Val! I clicked on your illustration to enlarge it and really, really liked it. I read your wonderful story about creating the invites and clicked on it again and ..... I loved it!!! You really made them very happy I'm sure. Of course they are still happily married... you started them off on the right foot. Love the part in the story about Cliff and John. It's a small wonderful world. :o)
Woow! I love this wedding card, and the name "A celestial life" is perfect! Well done Val, have a great weekend!
^_^
Que bonita, dos enamorados columpiandose en la luna, divina, fantástica. Besos.
Such a touching story and sweet illustration, Val. I love all the connections.
all goes to show ya good things can happen when you aim for the moon.
You just might happen to find you're self sitting on it with someone
special like Tracy did. As always Val wonderful piece. Clumsy lookin!!!!????
NEVER! michael dailey
Please this is far from silly and clumsy. I love it.
Val, you always have such interesting stories to accompany your art! I think you should write a book ;)
hey, thanks for stopping by with all those smiles!!
XX
i agree with the other readers you always have such interesting stories about your work. I love reading them all. You should have your own show!!
Very very nice piece, dood. And what work of art is complete without a little pooch in the corner? (I love dogs)! Mutts, especially. 'woof'!!
around here, we have more photos of pup than anyone else..haha...
as it should be!!!!!!
xo
Thanks for your enthusiastic comments on my blog. I will try and post more often!!!
Like the homemade paper touch that goes with this...
That's beautiful!!! Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog!
Beauitful story,great piece
Beautiful colours and painting, loved your story too.
Beautiful work, love the colors, lucky friends!
Oh WOW how I loved reading this! Such fun! And what a GORGEOUS wedding invitation. You have such a magical aura around every one of your pieces. This is so special. I'm sure your friend was SO THRILLED to get it!!
Thanks for the beautiful words from my new friend.
Lovely piece and wonderful story!
Hi Val,
These are the eternal lovers by moonlight...Beautiful !
Have à nice day !
Wow! So romantic and lovely.
You have kept this wedding illustration card in a good treasure.
So radiant and happy piece.
It's also a great card for valentine:)
Bye and a loving quite moment with your loved ones....just like above!
It's the most perfect wedding invitation I can imagine! What a great story, and altogether very magical....and I loved that band in the scene in Titanic!
Wow, Valerie, what a cool story. You have so many great stories to accompany your work. It makes the whole experience of visiting your blog all the more enriching! Beautiful card, girlfriend.
I am sure that this beautiful illustration an enough energy to help them pull everything off LOL!! This such a wonderful story. I told you that before. They are blessed to have a wonderful friend like you. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving such a sweet message Val. I so appreciate it. I do understand how busy you must be. Thanks
V
Good post and this mail helped me alot in my college assignement. Thank you on your information.
You sure know how to do up a wedding invite in style!
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