<p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><img src="//:0"></p><p class="ql-block">一、特殊的禮物</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">布朗先生即將迎來他與太太的第50個(gè)結(jié)婚紀(jì)念日。對注重家庭價(jià)值的傳統(tǒng)美國家庭來說，這個(gè)日子意義非凡，因此，他精心籌備了一份特別的禮物，準(zhǔn)備在這一天送給太太。</p><p class="ql-block">在布朗先生家的客廳里，掛著一幅畫——那是25年前他在結(jié)婚紀(jì)念日送給太太的禮物，畫中是他們的三個(gè)孩子，是他們愛情的結(jié)晶。據(jù)他說，這是他太太一生中收到的最珍貴的禮物。</p><p class="ql-block">因此，在金婚紀(jì)念日來臨之際，布朗先生決定再送一幅畫像給太太，而這幅畫，必須由25年前的那位畫家來創(chuàng)作。</p><p class="ql-block">然而，那位畫家多年前就關(guān)閉了工作室，淡出市場，個(gè)人網(wǎng)站與郵箱也早已停止使用，只保留著少量的舊友聯(lián)系方式，仿佛從人間蒸發(fā)了一般。</p><p class="ql-block">直到有一天，畫家的新郵箱里收到了這樣一封郵件：</p><p class="ql-block">Hi! I have been searching for your contact info for a while and finally found you on instagram!</p><p class="ql-block">25 years ago you did a portrait of my children:</p><p class="ql-block">It has been hanging in our family room since I gave it to my wife for our 25th wedding anniversary. My wife still says it is the best gift I have ever given her.</p><p class="ql-block">We are due to celebrate our 50th anniversary in August and I would love to give her another portrait by you.</p><p class="ql-block">I could send you photos (you worked from a photo before) or possibly meet with you if you are still in this area.</p><p class="ql-block">Please let me know if we can make this happen for my wife.</p><p class="ql-block">Thanks so much for your consideration!</p><p class="ql-block">郵件中流露出的深情厚意，以及對畫家的信任打動(dòng)了畫家。于是，這位已81歲高齡的藝術(shù)家決定接受布朗先生的委托，并為此推遲原定賣房搬家的計(jì)劃。從國外一回到美國，便立即全身心投入到這幅畫的創(chuàng)作中。</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">二、禮物的策劃</p><p class="ql-block">布朗先生翻遍家中每個(gè)角落，找出幾張幾十年前的老照片，包括一張近期的合影，瞞著太太一一掃描并寄給了畫家：</p><p class="ql-block">May</p><p class="ql-block">I can't believe it has taken me this long to gather the photos! Finally found our wedding album under stuff in the attic and got photos scanned without my wife knowing........then had some friends send me a picture of us that they made not too long ago. I have surprisingly few pictures of us together!</p><p class="ql-block">Then we got called to help our daughter for a few days in Spokane—-she has a toddler and a baby. Her husband is a pilot, so he is gone a lot. She has her hands full!</p><p class="ql-block">I realize this has really disrupted the time line for completion of the picture, but do the best you can and she may get the gift a bit late.</p><p class="ql-block">I have attached pictures from our wedding. They are old (50 years) and faded, but I hope you can work with them. There are some of us as a couple, but I included some that have better close-ups of us—-even though the photos are with other people.</p><p class="ql-block">I also attached a recent photo that I like.</p><p class="ql-block">My idea is a composite of newlywed couple and present day couple ---'side-by side But you may have a better Idea.</p><p class="ql-block">There are two songs that have significant meaning to us. One is "Through the Years" (Kenny Rogers) and the other is "Till the End of Time" (this was sung at our wedding and is engraved inside our wedding bands) If these titles could be combined and added as a title or backgroung? I'm sure you will have a better idea than me!</p><p class="ql-block">Through the years.....Till the End of Time <------something like that?</p><p class="ql-block">The piece that you did for us before is 22x15 (the exposed picture—-not including the matte of frame) That would be a great size for this piece also , if it work out to do it that size.</p><p class="ql-block">I know this is not a lot to work with, but I appreciate you working with me. Let me know if you need anything else and I'll try to get it for you.</p><p class="ql-block"> Thanks for your help!</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">畫家的回復(fù)：</p><p class="ql-block"><b>1.</b></p><p class="ql-block">Mr. Brown,</p><p class="ql-block">收到您的照片，我深受感動(dòng)。照片中凝結(jié)的是您們50年來的幸福與相伴，我送上我最真誠的祝福！</p><p class="ql-block">非常感謝您在這樣重要的時(shí)刻給予我如此大的信任，甚至愿意包容我可能難以按時(shí)完成作品的情況。</p><p class="ql-block">我目前還在香港，七月回美國后，將面臨賣房、搬家等一系列繁雜事務(wù)，希望上帝保佑我順利度過這一階段。</p><p class="ql-block">接下來，我將全心投入到您的這幅作品創(chuàng)作中。</p><p class="ql-block"><b>謝謝您。:)</b></p><p class="ql-block"><b>2.</b></p><p class="ql-block">Mr. Brown,</p><p class="ql-block">感謝您對我的信任。我會暫時(shí)擱置賣房的計(jì)劃，優(yōu)先完成這項(xiàng)委托。畢竟，五十周年紀(jì)念是極其重要的時(shí)刻，我們理應(yīng)盡力做到最好。</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block"><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);">幾天后，布朗先生又發(fā)來一封郵件，透露了更多細(xì)節(jié)：</span></p><p class="ql-block"><b>May,</b></p><p class="ql-block">We started dating when we were 15, so we have actually been together for 56 years!</p><p class="ql-block">早在我們十五歲時(shí)就開始交往，至今已一起走過了56年的人生旅程。</p><p class="ql-block">在我們交往初期（其實(shí)直到今天），我們有一個(gè)“秘密的握手”方式——兩個(gè)手指交扣，同時(shí)說：“我愛你”。她總是回答：“我也愛你”，這里的“too”既是“也”，也暗示著“兩根”手指的連接。</p><p class="ql-block">我請朋友們設(shè)法誘導(dǎo)她做出這個(gè)“握手”，并偷偷拍了一張照片。如果你能把這個(gè)細(xì)節(jié)融入畫面中（比如作為背景的影像或隱約的元素），那將再好不過……當(dāng)然，如果不行我也理解。</p><p class="ql-block">如果因此增加一些費(fèi)用，我完全可以接受。</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">三、草圖、起稿到完成</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">草圖和起稿</p><p class="ql-block">逐步調(diào)整</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">四、最后的對話</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">布朗先生——</p><p class="ql-block">May</p><p class="ql-block">I absolutely love it!!! and she will too!!</p><p class="ql-block">Looking at this piece of art make me think back over the last 50 years and realize how lucky I am. Thank yoiu</p><p class="ql-block"><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);">每次凝視這幅畫，我都不禁回想過去的五十年，意識到自己是多么幸運(yùn)。</span><b style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);">Thank you.</b></p><p class="ql-block">我真的很喜歡你所創(chuàng)作的作品！她看到了一定會非常激動(dòng)！</p><p class="ql-block">再次感謝！</p><p class="ql-block">I could not be more pleased with the result! Thank you for all of your hard work.</p><p class="ql-block">I have sent the final payment.......i included a bit more as a show of extreme appreciation for your dedication to this project</p><p class="ql-block">畫家——</p><p class="ql-block">I just received a message from my son-in-law，telling me that you paid an extra $500. I am deeply touched by your trust and encouragement. Thank you very much.</p><p class="ql-block">布朗先生——</p><p class="ql-block">My pleasure. You have gone above and beyond to make this happen and I appreciate it!</p>