Mark Twain's Lost Love
posted:
April 21 is the 100th anniversary of Mark Twain's death.
Smithsonian Magazine's art director Maria Keehan commissioned me to create an illustration to accompany Ron Power's essay about a how a young woman made an indelible impression on Samuel Clemens ( fyi: Mark Twain's real name ).
When Maria called all I heard were the words " lost love " and was immediately intrigued. In further correspondence it became clear that I was expected to do a portrait of Mark Twain as there was little reference of this mysterious Laura Wright. Samuel Clemens was only 22 when he met Laura Wright, but I chose to depict him as an older man to create a piece that had a nostalgic mood. Maria was very happy with my rough; her sole request was that I include a flower to play up the romantic aspect. I told her that I planned to paint the smoke / sky pink and felt that it would evoke that romantic feeling. She was happy with the results, and so was the author. I am always delighted to receive praise from the authors.
White crazy hair, a pipe and a lost love = all good material for an interesting assignment.
Thank you Maria for the assignment. I hope this one encourages the magazine to assign more illustration.
Smithsonian Magazine's art director Maria Keehan commissioned me to create an illustration to accompany Ron Power's essay about a how a young woman made an indelible impression on Samuel Clemens ( fyi: Mark Twain's real name ).
When Maria called all I heard were the words " lost love " and was immediately intrigued. In further correspondence it became clear that I was expected to do a portrait of Mark Twain as there was little reference of this mysterious Laura Wright. Samuel Clemens was only 22 when he met Laura Wright, but I chose to depict him as an older man to create a piece that had a nostalgic mood. Maria was very happy with my rough; her sole request was that I include a flower to play up the romantic aspect. I told her that I planned to paint the smoke / sky pink and felt that it would evoke that romantic feeling. She was happy with the results, and so was the author. I am always delighted to receive praise from the authors.
White crazy hair, a pipe and a lost love = all good material for an interesting assignment.
Thank you Maria for the assignment. I hope this one encourages the magazine to assign more illustration.
