A few weeks before Christmas, 2016 I was blessed to create a commission piece for Byron and Sidney Thorsen, who were wonderful to work with. We connected through a contact from Weiler House Fine Art Gallery in Arlington, Texas.
The Thorsens requested a painting of an old family homestead in Louisiana. I worked from several photos and snapshots and also with verbal input they provided about the family’s history.
30 x 24 Oil on canvas titled “When the Boys Come Home…”
Blue Star Service Banner
One of the subtle details in this painting that relates to the family history is a small banner just to the left of the front door to the screened porch. The banner is a “Blue Star Service Banner” that became popular during World War II. Families who had members in the military during the war would put a banner in a window or door with a blue star on it for every family member who was off serving in the war effort. The Thorsen’s family had 4 sons who were serving their country in this world-wide conflict.
Byron mentioned to me that while the war was going on and the sons were absent, his Great-Grandmother, when making various future plans would say “When the boys come home, we will….” An excellent memory indeed. There is nothing like a “Homecoming”.
The Thorsens also noticed the small scripture reference present on most of my paintings and requested to suggest a scripture for their painting. Since I had never been ask that before, my response was absolutely! Because of the nature of the artwork, representing a generational family place and the story I mentioned above, they choose Malachi 4:5 and 6, which says this:
“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. “He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”
Thanks Byron and Sidney.
