THE "DE-RENOVATION" OF HILLTOP HOUSE

"I am getting married in May. I have been having trouble coming up with a good wedding present for my fiancé. I've looked at your website and love your work. My fiancé. He and I own a home together, going on 3 years. I am positive that we will not be in this house for much longer, I think he would love this type of keepsake. Not to mention, he loves anything to do with Halloween and loves paintings."

So began my first correspondence with Michelle K. In her next email, she continued:

"I plan to take pictures over the weekend or beginning of next week. I will print them out and send them to you via mail.  A few details that Travis would love in the painting would include pumpkins, grim reapers, skeletons, graveyards, mummies, dark figures depicting ghosts, and coffins. He likes a night time scene with a full moon. I have a grim reaper Halloween decoration that I could take a picture of, that way you could get an idea of what it looks like. I like the idea of the home being depicted as aged and abandoned. FYI, the home is a old farmhouse."

When I received Michelle's photos, it was clear that I'd have to do some major "spookifying," as the house was an unassuming, neat, well-maintained little structure.  I stretched it, and its hilltop, vertically, and aged it about a hundred years worth of weather and neglect!

Had I gone far enough? Too far? I sent Michelle a quick pencil sketch just to check. Her reply came quickly:

"I think that view is perfect! I like how with that view being used, you are able to include the trees and the shed. The moon and clouds in the sky look great! I'm very excited to see more!"

The color study came next, and was approved with only a few minor changes. The finished painting was completed and shipped a few weeks before Michelle's wedding day, so she might have time to have it framed before the big day. I received her last email just a few days ago, and her comment was precisely what I always hope to hear:

"Just wanted to let you know he LOVED the painting. He especially likes all of the little details that were added. It is hanging in our bedroom, it looks great! Thank you again!"