The Farm Painting: Start To Finish

Above, the finished painting. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The idea for a special birthday present for Mitch Geriminsky for his 70th birthday came to me last June.

Since his has been great friend since we were 13 or 14 years old and he saved my bacon in Wells, Nevada five years ago, I thought I would have Asya do a painting of a farm. His home is decorated in a farm motif, which is why that was chosen. 

I wanted to have a gate with his name, so I came up with "Mitchell Farms" and have his age as the address number. 

I first sent her this rough sketch of what I had in mind:

 

She then used it to come up with her rough sketches on the layout:

She then bought the canvas in St. Petersburg, Russia:

Then she refined it on the canvas:

During this time, we sent each other photos of different farm and tractor photos we found online to use as guides. I had her eliminate the sun in the layout as it would cause shadowing issues. I also had Mitch's wife Holly in the loop during this process and she was able to keep it a secret.

In July, the painting was nearly finished:

Shortly thereafter, she sent it to me from St. Petersburg, Russia:

As our PayPal, Western Union and other money-sending companies were stymied from sending money to Russia due to the embargo, I was able to pay her for the painting when she was traveling in Cairo, Egypt.

It arrived in Jamestown, New Mexico in plenty of time for Mitch's birthday in October. He had visited here, during which the painting was safely hidden away. Now, it is at Hobby Lobby in Lake Havasu being framed. It should be ready tomorrow.

Painting Frame Selected

Above, the selected frame in the visualization monitor. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Home sweet home! 

I am now back at home in Jamestown, New Mexico. It was a long drive, but I made it.

Before leaving Lake Havasu, Mitch Geriminsky and I went to Hobby Lobby to pick a frame for his birthday present painting. Asya had a work appointment, so she couldn't participate via a video call. 

Above, an assortment of picture frames at Hobby Lobby. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Hobby Lobby had more frame styles that I thought they would. Plus, they have a visualization device that puts the artwork in a frame electronically and it is shown on a monitor. That is a big help in selecting picture frames. 

Above, the visualization monitor. The top two is the frame we selected. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After looking at several different frames, we decided to go "rustic" and it boiled down to three frame possibilities. Mitch and I liked the one we selected (we also had a lady customer helping out and she agreed with us). 

Above, the selected frame style on the painting. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I shot photos of the monitor with the different frame styles and sent them to Asya. Later in the day, while I was in Winslow, Arizona having a dinner break, she responded and said she supported our frame decision. The framing will be done by November 2.

I can't complain about the price either. The frame cost under $60.00.

Yesterday In Lake Havasu

Above, following the "last beer with Doug" at the cemetery. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday was spent attending the funeral and internment of Mitch Geriminsky's wife's father, Doug. 

It was a nice, but informal, service at the Lake Havasu church of Latter Day Saints. Following the service, we headed to the cemetery, Lake Havasu Memorial Gardens. It was a nice small cemetery. It is interesting to note that the cemetery is in a residential area, where, if one has a home or apartment there, they either have a view of the lake or of the cemetery. The cemetery was there first and the homes were built around it later. It is also the only cemetery in Lake Havasu.

Afterwards, we returned to the church for lunch.

When that ended, we headed back to Mitch's to rest up. Well, Mitch and wife Holly did. I studied the owner's manual to the new Remington Model 870 shotgun in the motorhome. 

Above, while studying the shotgun's owner's manual.

Before I knew it, around 20 of us returned to the cemetery to have our "last beer with Doug". By then, his grave was filled in and the only thing of concern were the water sprinklers that were on the whole time. The gathering was light-hearted with stories of Doug's life. He was a Navy veteran who participated in the Bay of Pigs failed operation in 1961. If only JFK allowed U.S. air support, the outcome would have been much different.

This morning, Mitch and I will be going to Hobby Lobby to get a frame for the painting I gave Mitch for his birthday. We may do a video call with Asya, if her work schedule allows, while we are there. 

After that is accomplished, I am heading back to New Mexico. It has been a busy six days in Lake Havasu.

By the way, Dwight Kuntz and I introduced Mitch to the Antiques Roadshow on PBS last evening. Incredible as it may seem, he was unfamiliar with it. He seemed to like it.

Now, About Framing The Painting

Above, the painting that needs to get framed. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

 

When Asya painted by portrait back in 2016, we went to a Tarzana frame shop to select a frame for it. She was a big help in the selection.

Then, when she painted the "Three Mesas" for me in 2018, she was back home in St. Petersburg, Russia. She shipped the finished painting to me from there. This prompted Janice, our then-post office clerk, to ask, "Did you order a door?" due to the wooden shipping box. I went down to Frame 'n Art in Gallup to get it framed. Luckily, since Asya and I are connected in WhatsApp, we did a video call at the frame shop and, again, her input on the frame was helpful.

We were planning to do this tomorrow morning (St. Petersburg is 10 hours ahead of Arizona time), for Mitch Geriminsky's "Mitchell Farms" painting at Hobby Lobby in Lake Havasu. Frame shops are rather limited in Lake Havasu. But, unfortunately, Mitch's father-in-law passed away last week and the funeral is tomorrow morning. Hobby Lobby is closed Sundays, so we can't do it today.

So, we will likely do the frame selection on Tuesday morning with Asya instead. It would be evening in Russia at that time. Following this, I will be heading back to New Mexico if all works out. Asya is currently checking her schedule.

New Drawing Board

Above, the new drawing board mounted on the tabletop easel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The new drawing board I ordered a few days ago from Hobby Lobby has arrived.

I mounted it on the tabletop easel and it is a good fit. Before I can get started on anything, the supplies I also ordered has to arrive. They are slated to arrive this coming Monday, at least that's according to the USPS.

J. D. Lees gave me an idea (he doesn't know just what I have in mind) for an illustration for G-FAN. He  doesn't seem to remember a drawing I submitted, and was published, for G-FAN years ago. Well, to be honest, I almost forgot about it myself, it's been so long.