Painting No. 46: Vacation Sunset

Painting No. 46, 7x5in, oil on gessoboard
Commissioned piece, not for sale

This was a practice painting that I did in preparation for a larger (11x14) commission piece that I did for my former youth pastor and current Facebook friend, J.T. (You'll see the "real thing" as painting no. 48.) He had messaged me asking if I'd create a painting for his wife's birthday. The photos that he gave me as references (sorry, seemed to have lost those or I would also include them) where of the sunset off the balcony of a beach house they visited several years ago. It was a special place for his wife and a painting would be a wonderful way to surprise her and celebrate her birthday. I was super excited for the challenge, but also nervous! So I painting this 5x7 painting first. I'm glad I did...I was happy with this small one, but I also learned a few things and had a lot more confidence when starting the larger one.