Caroline Belanger
Her Favorite Things, 2023
Mixed media on canvas, in acrylic box
20 x 20 x 2 in.
(50.8 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm)

Some artists really don’t like commission based work, and I understand their feelings, because it is a stressful process, knowing that what you make needs to meet their vision and not just your own.  Making art can be very solitary, but I am a people person and I love working with people to make their vision come to life, within my abilities!  So far, I’ve ended each commission with a new friend!  I think that’s why I hate calling them customers or clients and try to avoid using those terms.

I say all of this because I made a new friend when I made Her Favorite Things. My friend shared her extensive collection of luxury designer shopping bags, boxes, and ephemera with me to create this beautiful piece. The flower in the middle is a genuine linen Chanel camelia. I tried to incorporate all her favorite brands, all gifts from her husband in this homage to Coco Chanel. One of my favorite details that you unfortunately cannot see in this image is that I had painted the Christian Loubutin butterflies the signature red. When the red reflects off the gold butterflies…it’s just slay, as my daughter would say.