"Victorian Tea Party" a commissioned painting by September McGee

"Victorian Tea Party"

oil on linen, 24" x 30"

by
September McGee

Several months ago one of my amazing collectors asked me to do a commissioned painting for his Victorian home in St. Louis,  MO. He came up with the idea of a Victorian tea party painting for his dining room.  It had to be a large painting to fit this spectacular  room, recently restored in true Victorian fashion...a room done with a true love and passion for the time period. 

Commissioning a painting from an artist is a wonderful adventure into the creative realm.  A bond of trust bridges the relationship between collector and artist. Patience is also required. The creative process works on it's own time and this timing has to be respected.  My client,

Brian A. Van Tine,
 M.D./Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine and
 Sarcoma Program Director at the Barnes and Jewish Hospital,
 Washington University, St. Louis, MO

 is not only a busy physician, but an avid  appreciator of the arts with a reverence for the visionary process.  He sent me pictures of his Victorian dining room, from the chandelier, Victorian mouldings, wallpaper, fireplace, windows, ceiling and even his white cat on the dining table! We ordered the frame before we even began.

 I love the Victorian times: the clothes and hats. It was a lovely and insouciant era.  I have used this style for many of my figurative pieces over the years, and so I was thrilled to undertake this challenge. The ideas on how to accomplish this project began germinating.  Finally,  the right moment presented itself  and I began the creative process.


I sketched and played with the figures and the room.  I came up with a final sketch and showed Dr. Van Tine.  I usually don't show my initial sketches to clients, but Dr. Van Tine had been so patient and I was definitely pleased with the layout, composition and color palette.

"Study for the Victorian Tea Party"
Pastel on paper

I wanted to capture his spectacular dining room.  I decided to use the three rear windows as my background. I couldn't leave out the amazing fireplace, the exquisite chandelier, the mouldings and the ceiling's decor. The painting on the right is a copy of the final commissioned painting within the painting itself!

This was a fun project, which I had to admit took me far longer than I anticipated.  My creative juices were challenged.  My goal was to bring the viewer into the dining room and make you feel as if you were there!

I shipped the painting to St. Louis and Dr. Van Tine put it in its waiting frame.


  "It is perfect."

Thanks, 
Brian

"The Victorian Tea Party"
oil on linen, 24" x 30"

Collection of Dr. Brian A. Van Tine

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Email me for questions and requests!

Blessings!

September McGee 

PSA, PSWC, CPS,

Allied Artists of America, Elected Member

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