Cicero's was my first ever commission and it has a very interesting story (At least to me). If you wish you can read my story below these images of the finished paintings.
While still in my senior year of college at the University of Missouri-St. Louis Campus working on my undergraduate degree in art ... I found out that a restaurant / bar / night club in St. Louis was looking for an artist to paint four 84"x48 inch canvases in their soon to be opened music venue (night club) called "Venue."
The canvases were already installed on the walls of the Venue. They were hung there mostly to dampen the entertainment music so it would not echo in this relatively small space. I quickly came up with a design and presented it to them. They said they would get back to me after they talked to other artists.
Not hearing anything for four weeks my father (being a lifelong salesman) said "Call them!" I did and they said that mine was the only design they liked and "they had to have it completed next week!" because they were opening the following weekend!
Being a starving artist / student I said yes! For five days and nights I stood on scaffolding and painted. I also dragged a girlfriend, my parents and anyone else that could to fill in my lined sketches with paint. I then came behind them and reworked the design. I just needed to get paint up over the four - 8x4 foot canvases! Exhausted, I made the deadline. I think this is the reason I later developed varicose veins.
Wallah .. my first commission! I was now a professional artist and that's my story!