One morning, the following note appeared in my
inbox:
Dear Lew-- oboy! I live for
October days, October skies and October winds. My favorite author is
Ray Bradbury. my birthday is just east of October. I have a French
vernacular farmhouse style house in east Texas. I would like for you
to paint my house (with bats, lots of bats) in an autumnal setting.
Tell me what you need. Thanks. --Trudy
I responded with all the information Trudy would need to get
things started. She got back to me quickly:
We definitely want to do this. I have
few definite decorations that I use at Hallowe'en ... a door hanging
that covers the entire door... we use it every year... I'll want my
son, daughter-in-law, grandson and daughter in the picture, so i'll
make sure we send recent pics of them in costume along with the house
pictures...we have a lightning rod (real, wired for work!) with a blue
ozone ball in the middle of it on the highest part of the primary
roof. I'll make sure you get all of this in a list. What fun!
I have a name for my future house
haunting painting, Is that kosher? It would be "The House That Lies
Just East of October". You see. my birthday is the trudy28th of
September. My birthday gift to myself is taking that day to decorate
my house for Hallowe'en.
Before long, I had sent several pencil sketches, a first
color study painting, then a second and third, and finally a fourth...
responding to Trudy's comments and suggestions. (I never add any
charges for revising color study paintings.) Gradually I homed
in on her vision.
With revisions, intervening vacations and such, it was a couple
of months
before I sent off a scan of the finished painting. A few minor
adjustments ensued. Then I received the note I'd been
waiting for:
I can't
find another thing to worry about! Thanks so much.
The painting was carefully mounted in its archival matting,
acid-free backing, sealed in clear plastic, carefully crated, then entrusted to the mail. A few days later,
the painting had arrived safely, and I received this email.
I love it!! And the whole family has
had a chance to weigh in on it, They love it, too! The lightning rod
was a big hit (no pun intended!). and the spooks are staying hidden
for now. My son managed to find 7, but we're still working on it. The
colors are great, and we love the soft lines and specific details
(hard to accomplish both of those qualities) you've put into the
house.
My daughter-in-law was very flattered by her trim torso (she really
does look like a fashion model), and she was thrilled that she's
forever immortalized as her favorite "Dorothy". Tom and I love the
fact that we have all our own portrayed in our favorite spot (porch)
on our favorite day.
thank you so much! the denizens of the house just east of October (in
east Texas) salute you!!
