Commission: Keepsake Tree for Clara

Our transition from spring to summer has been such a whirlwind and I’ve not had time to reflect on my biggest commission project this year! In early spring, I was asked to help plan my God-daughter, Clara’s dedication.

I helped with everything from event signage, menu designs and even floral decorations on the day.

Planning and painting started weeks before the event and reminded me of when I used to work with clients designing graphics for websites, flyers, and planning outreach events!

It was exhilarating, exciting and the rush of it all definitely put my creative skills to the test. 

Like all wonderful things, the theme was florals, spring pinks, tulips and romantic whimsy lettering. For bigger projects, I find it easiest to work in small chunks and break down big tasks into small manageable ones. I tackled the project that took the most time first, a tree keepsake. This sentimental piece was to remember everyone in attendance along with those attending from heaven to be hung up in Clara’s room. This portion of the project required lots of back and forth to get it right.

I painted this on my biggest sheet of archival acid free Raler Downey HP watercolour paper. I didn’t stretch the paper because there wasn’t enough space! The tree was even too big for my tracing paper and I improvised with baking paper. I won’t do this again as I had some trouble transferring it to the watercolour paper.

In the end, the tree was a show stopper especially with the addition of everyone's fingerprints as the blossoms.

After the tree, everything else was a breeze. I handmade small signs by cutting rounded edges, painted the menus with pink tulips buds and added hand lettering. I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to push my creative skills and make something meaningful for someone I love and cherish.