In the 1940's the house was bought by Duck and Betty Braithwaite who used it as their private residence until 2001. The house was then moved to its present location, renovated, and is now a hunt club for coffee and book lovers.
Duck Cottage is my son's respite and dream. This is his "gotta go to" place when we're in Duck visiting my in-laws, and his idea of blissful ownership. A coffee shop like this is the perfect business for a Starbucks-loving book connoisseur. So, in order to remind him of this stress-free spot while he's away at school, I combined two pictures:
This photo of my son studying Russian (notice the coffee cup!) ~ taken from U.Va's "Week in Photos" website along with the picture of Duck's Cottage
and ~ wala ~ his perfect visual study spot!
The story continues....
I started this painting last summer and this is how far I've gotten. I was having a tough time getting the colors exactly how I wanted them....so I set the painting aside for awhile, periodically glancing at it, and thinking "I need to get back to work on that!" Well.....a few months back I hosted a "Girls Night Out" glass slumping art party at my house ~ (to view pictures from that night, click here). Lo and behold but who should be here, and looking at my painting, but the wife of Duck Braithwaite's grandson. She looked at the painting and said "I know that place, it belongs to my husband's family and that's where we got engaged!" She gave us the history of the house and the painting - although unfinished - came alive through her storytelling. Life is funny sometimes - and you have to love it when a moment like this happens.I am really hoping to have this painting finished in time for Stockley Gardens Arts Festival next weekend ~ May 18 - 19.
So, off to paint
I've often thought that life, at times, was orchestrated by some divine force...for there are things that happen that are too coincidental to be solely coincidence. ;)
ReplyDeleteAnna
What a small world! I am a UVa graduate and grew up going to the Outer Banks every summer. I even worked across the parking lot from Duck's Cottage at Tommy's Market. I'd love to see more pictures of your painting!
ReplyDeletecute creations! thanks so much for your kind comment...how sweet!
ReplyDeleteshelly
What a lovely place. Old homes like this have so much charm and they seem to be built to last forever. Your painting is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for commenting on my blog.
Thank you so much for the sweet comment on my blog! I get so excited when I see that someone has commented! I'm glad my profile made you smile :)
ReplyDeleteOk. I lived in NC for 4 years and I have no clue where Duck is. It sounds fun though. Duck is a fun word. I'm moving back, so tell me where it is so I can say I visited Duck!
The coffee house looks like a place I would like to take my wife. Your painting captures the building very well. I like the style you use because it reminds me of the work of an artist I saw in Grenada. Keep painting and sharing the story behind the painting.
ReplyDeleteOkay, WOW! This is Jamie from Duck's Cottage and A: Thanks for the major props in your blog! and B: OMG!! I love the painting!! I'm going to show it to Allen (the Owner)- he's going to love it! We need to talk!!! Jamie Layton
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