[John Reidy]

Patty,

It's beautiful here (in North Carolina).

I was worried about the hands. Too much detail I was afraid would detract and not enough would weaken the painting. I tried to just do enough for the viewer to appreciate from a distance and not get too detailed. I'll never know if I am successful but that was my thinking.

My brother assisted me in my photography session as he lives in Tulsa. Dr. VanTrease and he hit it off tremendously as the Dr. was adding on to his house and my brother had pretty much rebuilt his entire home. They also had more in common. My niece (my brother's daughter) was student body president at TCC. My brother had met Dr. VanTrease at a school awards ceremony several years earlier. This all was coincidental.

Needless to say Dr. VanTrease was completely engaged with my brother and me and I think it really helped in the photography session.

Have I mentioned I'm Irish?