Commissioned Landscape Paintings from Travel Photos and Memories
How I Came to Paint “Cotton Candy Sunset Over Sturgeon Bay” from a Cherished Travel Photo
What memories do you take away from your favorite vacations or travel adventures? Did you ride on a sailboat for the very first time? Did you eat a new cuisine that you will never ever forget the taste of? Did you see the most beautiful mountain view you think you might ever see? Many of the memories we capture from where we travel aren’t exactly tangible. I like to turn those memories around and create a tangible and unique souvenir that will be cherished just as much as those memories. I take your photos that captured those extra special moments and create a beautiful and unique commissioned artwork that you can admire forever.
I love travel and the experiences I have along each journey to a new destination. Along my trips, I always take tons of travel photos so I can always look back on those memories and the beautiful places I have visited. What I have discovered over time, is that I often purchase souvenirs that become long forgotten over time, but the photos are something I always seem to look back on.
This past September, my mother and I travelled to one of our favorite places; Door County, Wisconsin. We went between all of the lovely little lake towns that hug the shores of the Door Peninsula. While there, we indulged in a classic fish fry and conversed with the locals as well as took our time strolling along the Lake Michigan beaches and admiring the sailboats that we don’t get to see back home where we are landlocked.
Flash forward to us driving down to the town of Sturgeon Bay, which is the largest town on the Door Peninsula and is known for being a fishing hub. We arrived in Sturgeon Bay only to spend the evening there before heading down to Milwaukee for the last bit of our vacation. The sun was beginning to set and we could see the bounty of colors surmounting in the sky. It seemed that we were called to chase the sunset and find the perfect destination to bask in its glory. This is where I got the inspiration for my most recent painting, “Cotton Candy Sunset over Sturgeon Bay”.
The destination that we were summoned to when doing a quick online search of “perfect spots to watch the sunset in Sturgeon Bay” brought us to a peculiar, yet beautiful spot. A lighthouse out in the distance, that we now know to be the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Pierhead Lighthouse, was accessible only by a narrow pathway. I say it was peculiar because the pathway was divided by both residential private property and federal land designated to the National Guard. Walking out toward the lighthouse, we were accompanied by the soft sound of waves crashing along the beach and the view of the colorful clouds cast above the tree line. That is where I took the photo that inspired the painting “Cotton Candy Sunset over Sturgeon Bay”. Of course I’ve been mentioning this lighthouse which was overwhelmingly beautiful, but I am going to show you that another day. Hint: the painting I am working on now is of the opposite view from that beach, looking out at the lighthouse!
The original photo taken in Sturgeon Bay.
Cotton Candy Sunset Over Sturgeon Bay | 2022 | Collection: Door County | Acrylic | 20 x 24" | AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE
The beauty of reliving that special travel moment is apparent in this landscape painting and I am so happy to be able to share how I have transformed my travel photos into a unique landscape painting. “Cotton Candy Sunset Over Sturgeon Bay” is painted with acrylic paint on a 20” x 24” canvas. This original landscape painting is available for purchase. Feel free to contact me for pricing as I am very excited to find this piece of canvas wall art a permanent artful home.
Now that you have read my whole experience creating this specific landscape painting, I want you to know how this experience can be created for you as well. Travel memories are truly what you take away from any cherished family vacation, road trip, or solo trip. I love the memories that are created when traveling. I understand the sentiment of having a souvenir to capture those travel memories and remind you of your vacation every time you look at it. Turning those vacation photos into a unique and personal artwork is something so much more special that the trinket you could purchase at the airport. A commissioned artwork of a landscape, building, scene, family etc. made from photos is unlike any other souvenir you could find. It is special to you and your memories and you can admire that artwork on your living room wall for years to come. Another plus is that your commissioned art can add to your artful home and makes for magnificent wall art decor.
If you are interested in turning your photos into artwork that serve as the most unique travel souvenir, art commissions are currently open. I will work with you to create a piece of travel inspired art or landscape painting that speaks to you and your experiences.
Checkout my commission pricing here and submit an inquiry today to get your commissioned painting started.