Spread-E

When Ellie (my youngest) started skiing with the Fernie Freestyle Team in Fernie, the first trick she learned was the Spread Eagle.  She did it on every bump and jump she could find on the hill.  Sometimes it happened so fast I didn’t even get to see it.  

Ellie has also been one of my strongest supporters in my art pursuit.  She often comes in to tell me she loves my paintings.  Even if it’s a comment from my 9 year old, I’ll take it!  So it was her idea that I should paint a girl doing a “Spready.”  Initially, my figure’s hands were out in front, but Ellie said, “No! No! No! My hands are always behind me.”  And although it may not be the technically proper way to do a spread eagle, every time I watch little girls just starting out, that’s where their hands are, so I changed it.  

Ellie also wanted to “dress” my figure.  She wanted to see red snow pants, a teal jacket with hearts, green mittens, a pink helmet, and pigtails flapping (just in case there was doubt that it was a girl doing the trick).  I didn’t argue.

I went along with it, and this became the final piece.  But right til the end, Ellie had input.  I signed the back of the piece and added the title.  When Ellie saw how I spelled it “Spready,” she said, “No! No! It’s Spread dash E, Spread-E, for Spread Eagle…not with a Y!”  So on the the backside of the this painting, you will see that “Spready” has been scratched and renamed to “Spread-E.” 

Thank you Ellie for your collaborative effort!