When Harry called looking for a housewarming gift for his girlfriend, I knew he came to the right place. Listening to a client’s idea ignites an excitement in me that is seldom matched. The idea sparks a creative adventure, for both the client and the artist.

Harry’s girlfriend was a writer and had ideas for a new book about a cowboy who was allergic to something very hard for a cowboy to avoid. Harry shared the idea with a lot of excitement and care. It was clear that he believed in his girlfriend and her story.

His question was simple: could an Access Gallery artist bring this cowboy to life?

Harry reviewed the artists on Access Gallery’s website and was particularly interested in the work of FuMei Sorteberg, a painter and illustrator who has been developing her own style for years.

I asked FuMei if she would like to take on the commission. She was excited about the opportunity, but she was also a little unsure. She understood how important the gift was to Harry.

I arranged a virtual meeting between FuMei and Harry. These meetings connect the client and artist in a way that I, as staff, could never do. Harry could explain his idea in his own words, and FuMei could ask questions and learn more about the project. It was a chance for them to connect as client and artist.

Afterward, I asked FuMei if she felt more comfortable with the commission. She gave me a strong nod of the head with a confident smile.

FuMei started by creating a few sketches to show Harry her ideas for the painting. Harry chose the direction he liked best, and then FuMei took the lead.

Over the next three months, FuMei worked hard on the painting. She drew, painted, made changes, and worked through challenges along the way. Studio Facilitators Michael and Dez helped her with color mixing. I helped her think through the position and shape of a hand. FuMei brought her own persistence, problem-solving skills, and artistic ideas to every step of the process.

When the painting was finished, it was more than a housewarming gift. It was the result of three people coming together around one creative idea: Harry, who believed in his girlfriend’s story; his girlfriend, who imagined the cowboy; and FuMei, who used her own artistic style to bring that character to life.

The cowboy now has a place in Harry and his girlfriend’s new home, and FuMei became an important part of the story that brought him there.