I got commissioned to paint this custom family tree illustration as a creative 50th anniversary gift for my client’s parents. The artwork features portraits of the couple seated at the base of their family tree. I depicted the rest of the family sitting on the tree branches above the parents. The couple this artwork was created for is Japanese, so I tried to showcase their Japanese heritage with a variety of personalized details. Instead of writing their names on a banner (as I usually do) I added an inscription in a corner reminiscent of Japanese art. Although the parents’ names and their wedding date are written in English, I used a font that looks like Japanese characters.
I asked my client about famous landmarks in her parents’ hometowns in Japan, so I could add them to the painting’s background. I painted a beautiful red bridge from a Ritsurin Garden on Shikoku Island behind her mother. My client’s dad is from Hiroshima, so I added a Red Torii gate from his hometown behind him. The couple’s wedding anniversary is in the fall. So my client decided to use a maple tree with autumn leaves for the family tree itself. I used a pale blue sky to make a nice contrast with the bright red-orange leaves on the tree.
As always I made sure to make the painting as personalized as possible. I painted the rest of the family with objects that represent either their hobby or their profession. Per my client’s request, I also added pets to the painting. Both past and present! I found it very touching that she chose to include her childhood pets as well.
Size: 22X30
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