My First Commission

Several months ago I discovered the work of Snake Jagger. His paintings of the desert at night stunned me. They perfectly communicated the surreal feeling of possibilities I get in the desert at night. I had to contact him to own his work. So I did.

A month ago S and I met him at the Indian Wells Art Festival. He had a lot of great work, but it wasn't exactly what I wanted. So we talked and I asked him if he would paint something for me. A commission. I've never done this before - specifically asked an artist to make me a painting.

I told him the characteristics I liked about his paintings. He asked me about a size and we agreed on a price. And then a month passes. I waited patiently. I was nervous. I loved his work and I was pretty sure I would love the painting, but I still felt apprehensive.

Snake mostly paints low desert plant life - saguaro cactus. When S and I met him, S asked if he ever painted Joshua Trees. If you know me, you know I love the desert area around Joshua Tree and I love joshua trees - they are so surreal - especially at night!

A few weeks pass and snake offers me a sneak peak. I can't wait, but I can't look either. I want to wait to see the finished product. This is unusual heather behavior, because I generally like to know how things are going, as they happen. In this case, though, I didn't want to know. I wanted to be surprised.

Last Wednesday I drove out to Palm Springs to pick up the painting. It was a gorgeous day. The drive was fantastic. I was still nervous - I don't know why. I pulled up and saw Snake in his garden (it was like a mini-manicured desert landscape - just like in his paintings!). We talked for a bit and then he showed me the painting.

It was better than I could have imagined. It was gorgeous. A full moon over a rocky desert landscape of Joshua Trees. A rake and a snake and a secret UFO and the magic door. It was awesome. I loved it.

I hung it in front of my bed. So I see the desert, every morning and every night. Thank you Snake Jagger. S and I love the painting. You do such great work. Thank you for capturing the magical feeling of the desert at night.

Photo of the dread pirate Snake Jagger with Joshua Trees at night.

Comments

[neilalien]

i so love the desert too. really miss it. especially loved sleeping in it an hour outside phoenix one time - moonlight looked snowlike everywhere...

[rAne]

I'm always amazed by how bright starlight can be... I've been in the city too long. I can't wait to move back to Colorado - way out by Aspen and tucked away on a mountainside surrounded by starlight..

oh, and hi neilalien... funny to find you here!