Hi there Garth,

What a great job!

I'm used to your great achievements, I never expect less than this. Tony Pro once said you're probably one of the best living fine portrait artists, and he is right about that. I only hope see your works personally someday.

Garth, I am thrilled for you!

I missed the WIP thread on this painting, but just saw all the extra photos you have posted on the location where the painting will be on display. What an honor to be in such good artist's company! You must be in 7th heaven to have this wonderful painting be included in that impressive room. Congratulations!

Garth--

Great to see it finished. It's wonderful...

What a fabulous commission, and to be trusted to be the solution for a problem is an added bonus!

Best--TE

Hi Garth!
Great to come back (after a long absence) and see this gorgeous piece in the new posts. Really, really nice my friend! ;)

~Gear

Garth,
This is beautifully executed, and full of energy. I also like very much your idea to make a painting in the painting ( the background)
Congratulations!

Fantastic, Garth. Congratulations! And your painting is up on the wall with some other very big name artists, too.

By the way, who did the frame?

Another beautiful painting, Garth! I love the warm color palette. I'm with Michele--who did the frame?

congratulations again!

Renee

Just seeing this now. . .
Bravo Garth!
There's such a strong sense of personality that comes across (must be all those live sittings :cool: ) Beautifully done!

Yikes! Weeks have gone by and I have not responded to anybody.

Dear Linda, Bonfim, Chris, Enzie, Tom, Geary, Marina, Michele, Renee, and Terri,

Thank you all! Sorry I am so late. (I am myopically painting another judge).

Linda: Let's get together next time you're in Philly!

Bonfim: Aw, Tony is so gracious; I would say he is the great one!

Chris: I am honored and flattered by your thrill!

Enzie: Yes, that is a great collection in there, and for just a couple of years it will have the best spot before everything gets rotated again. A Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts classmate of mine already has four portraits in that room (Paul DuSold). It feels good to get a first foot in this door. The other artist who first painted Mr. DiLella was another PAFA celebrity (Vincent Desiderio). Deserving or not, I feel lucky.

Tom: I can hardly believe I was the solution. Vincent is such a world renowned painter I hugely admire. My portrait of Mr. DiLella is a bit more conservative than the first one. That is about all it has as a solution!

Incidently, Mr. Desiderio just juried and awarded me a very nice prize and purchase award for "Lesser Apotheoun" (it's SOLD!), for the PAFA alumni Fellowship exhibition at The Plastic Club, in Philadelphia! The show runs through October 15. He had his awesome 400 page monograph book on display at the opening. Wow, what a book!

Geary: Thanks! So nice to have you back here! What are you doing these days?

Marina: Merci! My client is a very powerful man and by definition, brimming with energy. I am glad a little of it rubbed off! I am also glad you like the background.

Michele: Do you know of the other artists? It sounds like you once visited in your Philly days!

The framing was done by Perakis Frames on South Bank Street in Old City, Philadelphia. They are fantastic and can build you any historic frame and style of ornamentation. I am not kidding; anything you have ever seen in a museum, they can build for you! Of course you get what you pay for: this modest frame was about $3,600.00; and it's a perfect compliment to the setting. Perakis Frames have no website, just telephone. Contact me, or check an online directory for contact information.

Renee: Thanks, I was trying to key the palette to the room setting. Every day we had a sitting, I would carry the painting into Lincoln Hall to see how well it was fitting in (every hour it seemed!).

Perakis Frames.

Terri: Hi! Yes, those sittings were immensely helpful! Mr. DiLella was very serious about getting his second portrait right! He gave me a lot of time.

Thanks again,

Garth

Incidentally, check this out: the "Mastery & Meaning: The Art of Nelson Shanks at the Union League" is up and open to the public at the Union League, now through December 17th (Saturdays and Sundays only). Another good incentive to visit this classy institution. 149 South Broad Street, Philadelphia. For more information: (215) 851-8793 www.unionleague.org/masteryandmeaning