the california kids

We have a new Different Kind Of Portrait on display today, and this time it's a story of distance and connection. Some portraits carry more than faces and places; they hold emotions, stories, and bonds that stretch across oceans.

This illustration tells one of those stories. It was commissioned by a loving mother as a gift for her son and his girlfriend — a young couple full of life, curiosity, and adventure. The two share a deep love for travel, and at the same time, their journeys have taken them far away from home and from their loving parents, who miss them tremendously. This painting was meant to capture those feelings: the joy of their shared path and the gentle ache of distance from their family.

The scene is a recreation of a photo of them taken in California, with its sunlit mountain landscape and earthy, picturesque backdrop — the perfect symbol of freedom and discovery. But through the brushstrokes, I wanted to infuse more than the beautiful scenery. The gentle tones and flowing textures of the watercolour bring back the warmth and tenderness of all the collected feelings and memories, reflecting not just their connection as a couple, but also the love that inspired the gift itself.

It’s always beautiful when art becomes a bridge between people — in this case, between parents and children, between home and distant places. This portrait is both a memory and a message: a reminder that no matter how far we go, love always finds its way through.

Creating this piece felt intimate and emotional, a small window into a family’s story, painted in soft hues and heartfelt meaning. And for me, that’s where the true magic of portrait-making lies.