The year of 2013, I was in the mode of starting and finishing a painting in one night. I had just graduated so I had these skills and knowledge I acquired and couldn't get enough of painting whatever I wanted, no guidelines or restrictions. I was living next to the separate garage on my dad's property figuring out my next move, so I also had the luxury of being free from the worry or making rent as well. I got a little ambitious one night with a big 36"x48" canvas I got on super sale. I was also just dipping my toes in social media and started posting artwork on Instagram for the first time. I was using the people I was meeting as inspiration for my work. I saw this photo by photographer [Billy Sukoski](https://www.sukoskibros.com/) and immediately knew I had to paint it. The model ended up being another talented photographer that I befriended and collaborated with as well, [Henry Bruington](http://www.hbruington.com/), and the painting landed into my ["Humans of Social Media"](http://christiesnelson.com/humans-of-social-media-20142015/) project I was working on at the time. They were both excited for me to translate it into a painting, and I was so overjoyed to have permission to get painting! ![Henry Squirt.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbEdwEt4H2K9apTVEot8Fh8Hqcemi9F2ohCncWtK4pnEv/Henry%20Squirt.JPG) Original photo by Billy Sukoski I started the underpainting in the afternoon and knew it was on. Painting it was everything I wanted it to be. I picked this photo because I wanted to paint the glasses and the shadows cast from them, his mustache, the embroidery and folds in his shirt, and the Squirt can. And those colorssss! ![underpainting _henry.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmSkVGLf5omkuwTq4uZWVYZvWBdJNfogbeziutV5s2nAqh/underpainting%20_henry.jpg) And I worked through the night. Back then I did this almost every night. I still go on late night painting binges when I'll paint basically non-stop for 12-14 hours often greeting the sun. The focus of the night helps me slip into a great flow state. ![1382964_10200892669581383_1461206858_n.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWWSnnnhGgYn9CqprQJoXcocurf22ZyEKcTAhhquaQ7hX/1382964_10200892669581383_1461206858_n.jpg) __*Final...*__ ![Henry.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmcK6k5GwxWzpT5Whz21kNT2uNbj669Zt5PzggX7QZZ47C/Henry.jpg) __*Detail...*__ ![detail.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmSKKTzoXUWojYimpAfKH1e8szjPQs63HJBhMWox3tLFV4/detail.jpg) While I love this painting and parts of this detail shot, I can definitely tell my perfectionism has gotten the best of me now and also why I don't call a painting finished after one night. I've also gotten better at hands after painting a whole [solo show](http://christiesnelson.com/a-show-of-hands-2015/) of them in 2015. I'll have to write a post about that one!! ![rsvpaint 2014.jpeg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTfX2Npp5pdq37QBWYw6zjGfLmtDVNL5jqHTBLMiM44ca/rsvpaint%202014.jpeg)"Henry" on display at RSVPaint, 2014 This painting had been hanging alongside "Strawberry Martini," the painting that I [shared](https://steemit.com/funny/@christiesnelson/painting-inspired-by-a-bobcat-skin) the other day also at 417 Taphouse. Last month, one of the owners informed me that it sold and I had a check waiting! Selling a painting is one of the best feelings knowing that it connected with someone, and I hope the new owners enjoy Henry and bring a bit of fun and color to their everyday lives. Thanks for looking! ![christie snelson sized copy.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPdJKvUPYgz77SDJCVLz43cUjYpvVuZHTGLB6c3QYpCFh/christie%20snelson%20sized%20copy.jpg) [www.christiesnelson.com](https://www.christiesnelson.com)