This painting was unveiled at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) convention in Palm Springs. Marilyn called me after the presentation to express her great appreciation, telling me, “It's more than we could have hoped for.” She then returned to their hotel room and wrote a letter (which you can see under the “references” tab) to express her gratitude. Following the convention, the portrait was returned to the crate for shipment and was delivered to David's Salt Lake City office. To his shock a gash was apparent on both the front and the back of the crate. During transit, a forklift blade had pierced the canvas. When I learned of this disaster, I recommended that I start over with a fresh canvas since the Mahers did not deserve a repaired portrait. I spent months carefully duplicating the painting so that no one could discern which was the damaged painting when they were placed side by side. Years later, it is impossible to detect where the damage occurred.
I will always remember David and Marilyn’s personal warmth, which I strove to capture in their portrait. Their very beautiful home has tri-colored floors of walnut, cherry, and maple. The towering stone wall in the entranceway and the 360° view of the Wasatch Mountains complements the beauty of their residence.
