Wall Street & Steve Whyte

Accountant and investment advisor, Steve Whyte, commissioned me to do a painting of a patriotic view of investment.   All commissions are collaborative and Steve had some things that were important to him to be included in the design—the masterful statue of George Washington by John Quincy Adams Ward at Wall Street, where our first President of the United States was inaugurated; and a representation of the New York Stock Exchange.  

I supplied eight proposed designs.  Once the design was chosen, color charts comprised of over 600 swatches were needed to test colors that could withstand a west facing window that was opposite the wall on which the painting would be hung, and would work well with the woods and the wall colors already in the office.  I then presented a downsized color study for approval.  Then it was time to make the custom sized gallery stretched canvas and prime it.  

The design features elements of the old entrance to the New York Stock Exchange, Old Glory, Washington and a modern electronic ticker display.  The ticker board was represented only as a black bar on the color study.  Steve didn't know exactly what was going there until the painting was nearly completed.  I selected the logos for McDonald's, Nike, and Tesla as all were businesses started as entrepreneurial dreams in the United States that are now major internationally recognized companies.  

The concept I had developed pushed me well outside of my comfort zone to execute.  Elements of a full length portrait of George Washington, architecture, lettering and the movement of fabric in light and air all melded together to both challenge and build my artistic abilities.  Steve was a patient client to wait two years for me to work through it.  He was absolutely delighted with the finished work and it is proudly displayed at Pinnacle Wealth Management Inc., Rancho Cucamonga, California.