The Gift

One year for Christmas, my daughter-in-love presented me with this beautiful needlework piece of art. I had seen her working on it from time to time but that time of year is very hectic and busy with cooking. As I was preparing the Christmas meal, I loved how the light was illuminating her and the needlework. Such a peaceful, warm glow surrounded her and I took a reference photo to use some day. I had no idea she was cross-stitching an English or Victorian cottage with seating for two in a garden filled with flowers and other lovely things. Needless to say, when she presented it to me, I cried. I counted them, there are over 100,000 stitches she placed in this gift. I love it. Well, someday arrived and though I haven't done many figurative paintings, I am very please with how it turned out. I started out with a lovely brunaille underpainting of Burnt Sienna and then made several passes of color to render this figurative piece.