[Tom Edgerton]

Mike--

The foundation gave me a reference scrapbook, but that was all the input from them. I went to see the space and told them it needed to be fairly large to carry it. I quoted a price range, and that was that. No creative input, just trust. I had worked with this foundation before--I've painted the woman's husband twice--and they pretty much just leave all the details up to me by now. The family wasn't involved in the process, except to indicate that she indeed occasionally arranged flowers. The painting was driven by my artistic and compositional interests at the time, and all I did was show the foundation president a quick color rough with the head shot I had chosen, both for expression and because it documented the middle (vital) period of her life, when most folks remember her.

In short, they're the PERFECT client, and I don't take them for granted. The mutual trust is born from them knowing at this point that I will walk over hot coals for them if they ask.

Best--TE