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This painting was done specifically for my friend, Pat Hinga. She has an enormous costume jewelry collection and this was one that really caught my eye. I believe she aquired it in Italy and it may possibly have some connection to Louis Comfort Tiffany. That aside, I just thought it would make a fantastic watercolor. I did this as a surprise for her birthday. I would sneak into her house when she wasn't around and take the beads from her jewelry chest.The catch was I had to get them back in the jewelry box in the same position before she returned from work. After a few days of feeling like a jewel thief, I made up some story that I wanted to wear it to a Christmas party that was coming up. So, she lent it to me and I spent the next few weeks drawing and painting it as fast as I could.I didn't want to seem like I kept it too long as I know she would be suspicious. I also needed to get it framed and matted before her birthday arrived (Jan.19). Thank God, everything turned out the way I planned!

I really enjoyed painting these beads. Their color is so marvelous (it gave me the excuse to purchase some new colors to try out). The textures of the different beads and how their color varies from bead to bead. A year later, it appeared in my first large showing of my work thanks to the fact my friend, Pat, didn't mind me taking it off her wall for several shows and competitions. In the group show (I was one of three artists showing), this was one of my paintings that got the most compliments (out of my 11 paintings shown). One of thewonderful things about this piece, is it came to me so effortlessly like it was painting itself!