Having missed out, Jeff decided to commission me to paint another just like it. Now, a commission is a commission, right? Artists can't afford to turn these away, can they? Yet, my personality is such that doing anything once is fine (there's the bits about trying something new, finding something different to explore and improve on) but painting the same subject twice? I fobbed them off with the line that I've to have autumn trees before I can paint them.... which gave me another 6 months to think about it. Well, autumn was definitely here in Sydney. In fact, the wind has blown all the leaves off now as officially, we are in winter. So I've run out of time, and had to knuckle down and produce! Thankfully, it is easier the second time around. I plan to give the painting to Jeff as a present for his next birthday. He tells me he has a space awaiting (6 months of a blank wall..... I do feel a bit sorry and hope this will be an adequate compensation).
