Project Description

This painting is a gift for Vicky. Its origins trace back to the time my mom was in hospice. Vicky and I were by her side when she passed.

Vicky was married to my mom’s nephew, Stephen. My mom was always loving and kind to them both.

I was deeply moved by Vicky’s devotion during my mom’s final days. She drove for hours to be there and spent many nights sleeping on the floor beside her. Her presence was an immense comfort. It was clear that Vicky felt a deep need to return the kindness my mom had shown her. She said, “Oh, I would do anything for Aunt Clarice.”

Stephen passed away many years ago. Not long after, Vicky and their daughter took a drive through Northern California. The golden hills and oak trees captured her heart and have come to symbolize her love and bond with Stephen. Vicky shared this story with me after my mom died. We were talking about paintings, and I realized an image of those golden hills would be deeply meaningful to her.

Initially, I imagined creating a semi-abstract version. But when I asked her to describe the landscape, it became clear that she wanted something representational—something with depth. I used atmospheric perspective to give the painting a more convincing sense of space. To get it right, I searched for reference material. I explored views on Google Maps, dropped the yellow figure into locations, and took over thirty screenshots. None were quite right. In the end, I assembled elements from several areas and arranged them in Photoshop. The clouds and mountains came from my imagination.

I created this out of gratitude for Vicky’s love and service. My mom would be incredibly happy I gave this to her.

size: 15 x 30 x 1 in. | acrylic on canvas | 2022

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