Commissioned painting “The Edge of Understanding”

During the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, I started and completed my first real commissioned piece of art, an oil I have titled “The Edge of Understanding,” 20×24.

The patron wanted a painting similar to one being offered by the gallery at this time called “A Walk to the Edge,” which is a continuation of what I call my “Jot and Tittle” series.

The commission went so smoothly, I can only imagine this is probably the exception rather than the rule and I will keep that in mind when undertaking any future commissions. In other words, I won’t go looking for them, but I will try to be realistic.

I have actually painted this kind of image a few times. The first time I painted it the piece was purchased by one of my first and most loyal collectors (you know who you are!) and I have greatly enjoyed perfecting the image artistically and also the refinement of the process and execution.

I call these paintings “Jot and Tittle” paintings from the idea that the horizontal short stroke and vertical short stroke, or jots and tittles, are some of the first mark making a human makes to say “I am here.”

I would like to extend a great thank you to the patron who commissioned the piece, and to my gallerist and collectors who have supported me along the way. I feel this piece represents a walk to “The Edge of Understanding.”