I commissioned Christina Pappion for one of the most important events in my life...the engagement to the love of my life and now fiance/future wife. I had an idea of surprising my GF with a custom painting highlighting all the important people,... places, events in our lives together. Christina's talents and services were critical to bringing this idea to life.
The Idea: Have Christina arrive at a restaurant early before my girlfriend and I's arrival and setup shop in the corner of restaurant to make the GF believe she is working for the restaurant. GF will not suspect she is painting us and believe she is just painting a mural of the restaurant dining room.
The Execution: I make small comments to my GF throughout meal about the artist in the corner and plant seeds of curiosity about what the artist (Christina) is painting. Christina then approaches us at the end of our meal to innocently ask about opinion of artwork she has completed.
The Result: Girlfriend walks to painting and see's a collage of her recently deceased father & pet as well as where we wet met, first date, where we fell in love, etc and in the center of painting an image of me kneeling and proposing to her. While she absorbs the painting, I am kneeling on one knee with ring in hand behind her to surprise her. Mission accomplished. Tears of joy, a YES, ring on finger, and sealed with a Kiss.
A moment as important as this really made me nervous in picking the right artist to portray the images I wanted as well as participate in the actual surprise. Christina was part of the plan, process, artistry and execution of my engagement. I couldn't have asked for a more talented artist to be a part of my engagement.
Great Communication + Super Talented Artist + Amazingly Cooperative & Easy to Work With = The Perfect Choice for a Perfect Day.