I painted Bill Murray as an Angel playing the Ukulele (Another one of my best pieces)

"I saw The Bill Murray Stories, and I want to set up a Bill Murray shrine.... but I need something cool to hang there."

Here's a closeup, 'cause this painting is 30"x40" - so... there's a lot of detail you're not seeing on your digital device.

If you've read my intro (or... any of my other posts), you know that I create a new work of art every single day for the last 2,634 days (at the time of this writing).... but what I haven't said in my other posts is how not every day's post takes me one day.... Many take me much longer, but I only take the credit for the 1 day when they are finished. 

What's longer?  Sometimes days, sometimes weeks, sometimes months. While I paint those longer pieces I create shorter pieces which I then upload as the day's art.  What's the point?  THIS is one of those paintings that took longer than a day (and I think it shows).

Which pieces get the most time / love / attention?  My custom commissions (and I'd love to paint one for you).  I'll do another post about the process I take clients through, and what makes them so special. However, the thing that makes them epic is that they are hyper-personal.  They are pieces that tell the specific story of the person (or people) that they are for. Let me tell you the story of why Craig's wife Camille commissioned me to make this painting.... and show you what's personal about it.

Ok, so there's this amazing movie on Netflix called "The Bill Murray Stories"  - Here's a trailer:

My buddy messages me and says I've gotta see it, and that he wants to set up a shrine to Bill Murray, but hasn't found anything he loves for it. My initial reply is "Oh, bet I can paint something cool." - and then I forgot about the whole thing.

The next day my buddy Mark tells me I've gotta watch The Bill Murray Stories. Two friends in 2 days? Sounds like I've gotta watch this movie. So, I do. And.. I was blown away! It's really damn great! I too wouldn't mind a Bill Murray shrine. You see, this movie is about Bill Murray making appearances everywhere... not douchey "hah, I'm a celeb, warship me!" - rather... he'll crash a house party and do the dishes, or he'll show up at a bar and bartend for free. -- things like that... he just goes around bringing happiness to peoples' days... and... when people tell their stories of this, many others do not believe them... because who's going to believe you that while you were at the urinal, someone covered your eyes and whispered "They're never going to believe you!" - and it turns out it's Bill Murray?

Film maker Tommy Avallone chased down a ton of people who have shared their Bill Murray stories, and made a very heart-warming documentary about it (me saying I want a Bill Murray shrine is my way of saying I give this film an enthusiastic 2 thumbs up). 

So now I've seen the movie, and the next day, my buddy's wife reaches out and asks if I can paint something about Bill Murray. It turns out that Craig was in a funk, but watching that movie got him out of it, and his birthday was in just under 2 weeks, and she thought this would make a great present.

I had no issue with this since I would not be able to attend the birthday party, but this way would have a presence there. 

The premise I came up with was Bill Murray as an angel... rather "Bill Murray- An Angel Amongst Us" was what I thought.  Camille had thought that perhaps it should be something like Bill doing the dishes, but I promised her that no guy on this planet wants a large painting of doing the dishes. While that may be my own opinion, I also know her husband extremely well, and I'm pretty darn sure that he would not find dishes inspiring. 

I created the sketch, and Camille liked it. The reason that Bill is holding a Ukulele - other than that it's cute, and makes a more interesting image (see my previous post: "I bet you're going to love this painting of 2 chameleons and a heron, and I'll even tell/show you the reasons why!"  -- this falls under the "Story" portion of it) - is because Craig plays the Ukulele, so this makes it HIS Bill Murray painting. 

Camille got to enjoy the process as well, because she got to contribute to the painting process. She wanted me to add the slogan "It just doesn't matter" - which is a thing Bill keeps saying.  And, she also wanted the colors of the shoes changed, which definitely did improve the image. 

I've found people truly enjoy having their suggestions added to a painting... they often brag to their friends about how they were part of the creation of the painting.

Anyways- Camille threw a big surprise party for Craig (I believe it was about 60 people there), and the centerpiece of the whole evening was the gifting of this painting.  She came out with his cake, he blew out the candles, then the crowd parted, and behind them was a very large painting. 

Here's Craig, Camille, and Orion with their painting.... But they're not the only ones that got a copy of it.  I also sent one to Tommy Avallone - the film maker, as his film had moved me.

I would love to get a painting to Bill Murray himself, but he's a little harder to reach.

Make sure to follow me, as I post new stuff daily.. Usually about art & adventure, but I try to tie life lessons in there as well..