Commission Stories, C.B. Knight
A selection of patrons, projects and palettes
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Surprise! Many patrons enjoy planning the gift of a surprise commissioned piece by C.B. Knight. For the family member 'who has everything', this is a unique and heartfelt choice and a great way to give a collective gift from the whole family as well. The piece can be of a favorite flower, animal, place, or even a family tree. Each recipient has been surprised and touched by the thoughtfulness of the family and the personal quality of the work made just for them. We hope you enjoy reading some of the commission stories below that have produced one of a kind gifts of value for years to come.
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Eze, France
Landscape
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| collection Fred and Cindy Boyd 2007 |
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Cindy and Fred honeymooned on the gorgeous coast of France. As a surprise anniversary and holiday gift, Cindy commissioned this watercolor of the town of Eze where they had enjoyed peaceful walks through the sunlit streets.
To create luminous shadow and brilliant sunlight, the Artist used a neutral tint mixture of the three primary colors and then added warm layers of yellows. To capture the various blues of the Mediterranean Sea, cerulean blue, French ultramarine and primary blue were layered in broad sweeping washes.
18 x 24" watercolor on 140 lb.cold press paper
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| collection Wayne and Tom Johnson 2008 |
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| Vitaceae Ampelopsis brevipedunculata
Amur pepper vine, Porcelain berry
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Thomas M Johnson III secretly commissioned this botanical portrait for his wife, Wayne, upon their wedding anniversary. Wayne had long admired the berries on her walks around the park in their neighborhood.
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The vine depicted, although invasive, produces spectacularly colored fruit in late summer and early fall. The variation in the color of the fruit ranges from a bright spring green to lilac or rose, dazzling shades of turquoise, ultramarine and even violet. Often all these colors are seen together on the vine.
The original watercolor portrait of this Ampelopsis variety was produced on 140 lb. Arches hot press paper. Using pure watercolor wash techniques, the Artist applied layers of cerulean blue, indigo, primary blue and French ultramarine for the blue berries. Ultraviolet and alizarin crimson were used for the purple and rose tints of the ripening fruit. The greens of the leaves were achieved through many layers of yellow and blue washes as well as shades and tints of complementary colors around the intricate venation.
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Pheucticus ludovicianus
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
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| collection Doug and Florida Ellis 2008 |
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This special portrait was commissioned by Florida and Doug Ellis for the private entry way into their home which looks upon a bird sanctuary.
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A special visitor to the woodland garden, the male Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a vision in crimson, black and white. A trinity of reds both from the breast of this magnificent bird and the blossoms from Camellia japonica, 'Governor Mouton' make up the composition of this colorful portrait.
No black paint was used by the Artist; rather, the three primary colors, red, yellow and blue were added in many washes and varying hues to create the rich depth of the bird's top feathers. In keeping with traditional watercolor techniques, no white paint was used either. A cerulean blue wash was used to reveal the glossy quality of the Camellia leaves.
The Artist has made Limited Edition notecards with this image on the front, available for purchase. Contact us for order inquiries.
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| ink and watercolor on 300 lb. Fabriano hot press paper 2009 |
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| Leonard Family Tree
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Nancy James and Norris Broyles commissioned a visual family tree to document the seven generations who have lived on and managed this special family property in Vienna, Georgia, as a gift to their Father upon his 80th birthday. The Leonard Family Tree now hangs in the great room of the log cabin on the property, and Nancy and Norris both have digital copies of the original.
The property holds such treasures as a natural cold spring, a log cabin which has been expanded from it's original state, a family cemetery dating back to the mid 1800's as well as a working farm. The land, which is in the coastal plain region of Georgia, is teeming with wildlife as depicted in the tree. It is also rich in relics from the Creek Indians who lived and hunted on these grounds.
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The Artist composed a design featuring the unique cold spring on the family property. A branching pecan tree organizes the seven generations with the suggestion of other branches that continue off the paper. At the foot of the Pecan lies the elaborate tomb of the first generation who migrated to this new land. In the other corners are a liberty bell and angels from the family cemeteries found on the property and in the town of Vienna. Spear points, Long leaf pine cones, cotton and sunflowers give hommage to the heritage of this land.
Wildlife depicted include a Barred owl, Kingfisher, White-tailed deer, Red fox, Wild turkey, Pileated woodpecker and Mourning doves.
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Penny's Pond
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| Penny's Pond 2009 |
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Penny Dyson had a pond built in front of her Buckhead property. As a surprise for Christmas 2009, the Dyson family, Susie and Milo Cogan, Tania Dyson and Brian G. Dyson, commissioned this landscape which captures the tranquility of the pond on a warm autumn day. Horsetails and ferns are depicted in the foreground while flag iris, sasanqua camellia, rhododendron and oak leaf hydrangea can be viewed in the distance. The painting hangs in the formal dining room with a view down the hill to the pond.
Please visit our Pen and Ink page to see line renderings of the Dyson Property, Chatham Pond, 2010.
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Watercolor on Arches hot press paper
Hand painted framing by Antonio Raimo Galleries
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Other commission stories:
Three tree portraits, a Tulip poplar, Southern magnolia and Oakleaf hydrangea, for three daughters to inherit one day, Lisa and Peter Aman 2003
A portrait of a Ginkgo tree from the front yard of a new home, commissioned by the owners, Rosalyn and Chris Devine 2008
A portrait of native Rhododendron maximum found on the Patron's property, designed for the space above the formal living room mantle, as a surprise for her husband, Adrienne and Chris Port 1997
Two peony portraits, 'Sarah Bernhardt' and 'Bowl of Beauty', for a master bedroom, commissioned by Melissa Hinchman as a surprise for her husband 2007
Four perennials: A Foxglove, an Oakleaf hydrangea, a Mountian laurel and a Peony for a master bedrom, commissioned by Master Gardener, Lucile Higgins 2008
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Have a commission story of your own to tell? Contact us for a free estimate which includes a consultation, scaled rendering of compositional ideas, color palette and design specs for the project. Commissions can be produced, framed and delivered in one month's time from the date of approval by the patron.
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"No human pursuit achieves dignity until it can be called work,
and when you can experience a physical loneliness for the tools
of your trade, you see that the other things - the experiments,
the irrelevant vocations, the vanities you used to hold - were
false to you."
~Beryl Markham, West With The Night
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