Touching

I was asked by a friend of my son's to paint this painting from a photograph taken at her friend's wedding a year or so ago.  It was a very busy photograph with people in the background and these photographs are not usually suitable subject matter for oil paintings but I'm always up for a challenge.  The format is small at 6" x 8" but the only way to know whether I could do it was to just get started.

My beginning was pleasant enough and moved along and I was encouraged to continue.  The second photo is at 95% finished and I've decided to let it sit for a day or so but I'm already itching to correct and finish it.  I'd like to make the brushstrokes in the background less busy, lighten the bride's shoulder, finish the mother's hairline and a touch more on the glasses.  I'm so happy with the results so far and grateful to this friend for the opportunity to discover the things which I thought beyond my abilities.

And my title?.......a mother's hand and the gesture speak volumes but especially that I have just discovered that the mother in this image has just recently passed away.