Marry Me

Oil on Masonite 4’ X 4’

Marry Me is a portrait of my wife, taken from a selfie she sent me on the 45th day of our relationship, reminding me not to forget to marry her! I had just finished Angel of Mine and Shelby kept saying it was dark and not bright enough. I laughed and told her the next painting I did of her was going to be the brightest things she ever saw!

Marry Me started out with a pallet knife and I intended to finish it that way, leaving bold strokes of paint everywhere. Early on, however, I hated the look and one evening, while struggling with it, one of my tubes squirted on my hands. I am a meticulously clean artist and would generally clean my hands immediately. However this time, I began finger painting and found a love for touching upon Shelby’s features as I painted. Except for a few finishing details, I painted this piece with my fingers and enjoyed every second of the experience. I found I was able to let loose, dance as I painted, and fall in love again with her features.

As I hope to leave my print upon this world, and in matters of love, especially upon my wife’s heart, so I have literally left my fingerprints all over her face in Marry Me.