“I treasure this painting. Carol took a worn out tiny photo and somehow created an image of my parents, as they were. She captured the feeling of my childhood.”

Grace’s Parents, oil, 24"by 36"

My Father, acrylic, oval, height, 30".

Ken Shelf arranged this portrait of his "Grandpa George" as a surprise for his mother's 60th birthday. George had been dead seven years and Ken borrowed his mom's favorite photo of her father, scanned it, then emailed it to me, along with others he had. Ken's mother always felt in this photo her father was "looking right at her." I chose an oval canvas, to emphasize George's warm direct glance.

“The portrait was a smash hit. When my mother unwrapped the painting, she was speechless. Then she burst into tears and we all cried together.”
Ken Shelf,
San Francisco, California

Evolution from photo to sketches to painting:
Grace Green, Philadelphia.
All Grace Green had of her deceased parents was this one faded, tiny (2" by 2") photograph. She told me all about her father and mother, described their personalities and relationship. Since she let me know how important this porch was in their family talks and gatherings, I gave the porch lots of loving detail.