Welcome to Blind-Sighted Brushwork

This painting holds a special place for me—it’s a visual interpretation of a story from *Wrapped Up in You* by Jennifer Carr. Jennifer commissioned this piece to represent the journey of two characters from her novel, a young couple who connect online, lose touch, and then unknowingly reunite through a shared passion for country music.

**A Story in Silhouettes**

I chose to depict the couple as silhouettes, which felt perfect for capturing the mystery in their relationship. These two fall in love without fully knowing each other, reconnecting through their love of music. By focusing on their instruments—his guitar and her violin—I aimed to highlight the bond that music created between them. The fence between them suggests both the separation they've overcome and the unspoken connection they share.

**A Springtime Palette**

The color scheme of blues and greens felt right for the story’s southeastern Appalachian setting, evoking the fresh air of a Nashville spring. The muted but lush background sets the stage, while acrylic markers helped me bring subtle details to life in the instruments and the characters’ outlines.

**Creative Freedom and Challenges**

Jennifer gave me a lot of creative freedom, allowing me to interpret her story in my own way. The biggest challenge was working on a round canvas, something I hadn’t done on stretched canvas before. I had to get creative with my easel setup, stabilizing the circular canvas with a standard one behind it. Adding fine details to the instruments was another challenge, which I addressed with paint markers and a stencil.

**The Process and Personal Growth**

It’s tough to say exactly how long the piece took, since there were breaks between sketch reviews and final touches. But, in total, I spent around a week on the painting itself, working on it for a few hours each day. Reflecting on this experience, I’m especially proud of the way the tree naturally frames the couple, drawing viewers’ eyes to their story and the significance of their reunion. The circular format pushed my boundaries, which, as artists, is always a good thing.

**A Beautiful Reaction**

When Jennifer unboxed the painting, her reaction was better than I could have imagined. She even shared it on TikTok, which was a special moment for me as an artist. It’s always rewarding to see a client truly connect with the work.

**A Love that Defies Boundaries**

Ultimately, this piece is about love that transcends appearances and barriers. No matter what divides us or how someone appears, love finds its way through shared passions and memories. This commission was a joy to create, and I’m honored to be part of telling Jennifer’s story.

For anyone interested in the full journey of Nash and Cassidy, check out Jennifer Carr's book *Wrapped Up in You*. It’s a beautiful story of love, music, and reconnection. I will link it below.

Thanks for joining me for another Commission Spotlight, have a wonderful day and God bless you all!