Mike McInnis and the Gallant Lady- Commission Story series
I am really excited to announce that I'm starting a new series of blog posts about the stories behind commissioned paintings. They were just too cool not to share and I have had the pleasure of meeting the most interesting people through this experience- each with a story to tell. For the first one, I would like to introduce to you, Mike McInnis and the Gallant Lady:
Tell me a little bit about yourself...
I worked commercial fishing in the summers in high school with Dewey Destin. His family founded Destin on fishing. At 20 years old, one of the captains signed off my sea time and I studied and tested for my 100 ton master capt. license. The day I got it, me and a bud drove to Louisiana and I got a job the first day. At 23 I wanted to switch it up so I gave my resumé to a head hunter and had a couple choices, but picked the Gallant Lady. I have my 1600 Master All Oceans License now. 19 years I have had a captains license and 13 of those have been on the water. I live in Santa Rosa Beach, FL with my wife and 2 daughters.
Tell me a little bit about yourself...
I worked commercial fishing in the summers in high school with Dewey Destin. His family founded Destin on fishing. At 20 years old, one of the captains signed off my sea time and I studied and tested for my 100 ton master capt. license. The day I got it, me and a bud drove to Louisiana and I got a job the first day. At 23 I wanted to switch it up so I gave my resumé to a head hunter and had a couple choices, but picked the Gallant Lady. I have my 1600 Master All Oceans License now. 19 years I have had a captains license and 13 of those have been on the water. I live in Santa Rosa Beach, FL with my wife and 2 daughters.
Where did you travel with her and where did you like best?
St. Barts, British Virgin Islands, U.S. virgin islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, St. Martin, all of the Bahamas, St. Croix, bunch of other small caribbean islands. My favorites are Abaco outer Bahamas for fishing and spearfishing the gorgeous reefs. St. Bart's is a great, all around fun and nice island. Cheese Burger in Paradise- haha that's where Jimmy Buffet wrote that song.
Nice! I understand then why you wanted the reef underneath the yacht in the painting. Where do you and your family go on vacations, and what else do you like to do for fun?
Mexico, Colorado, Dominican Republic, Smokey Mountains. I have 5 old Land Cruisers- that is my hobby along with my personal boat, my 31 cc ocean master. My wife and I just took it camping 2 weeks ago on a private island.
St. Barts, British Virgin Islands, U.S. virgin islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, St. Martin, all of the Bahamas, St. Croix, bunch of other small caribbean islands. My favorites are Abaco outer Bahamas for fishing and spearfishing the gorgeous reefs. St. Bart's is a great, all around fun and nice island. Cheese Burger in Paradise- haha that's where Jimmy Buffet wrote that song.
Nice! I understand then why you wanted the reef underneath the yacht in the painting. Where do you and your family go on vacations, and what else do you like to do for fun?
Mexico, Colorado, Dominican Republic, Smokey Mountains. I have 5 old Land Cruisers- that is my hobby along with my personal boat, my 31 cc ocean master. My wife and I just took it camping 2 weeks ago on a private island.
Tell me about your daughters and why you wanted to do this commission?
My daughters are 3 and 21 months. They love the water! We have a dock so I have to bait the crab trap and fish trap every time I come home, and they like to watch and hang out on the dock. This was a christmas gift for them, and they love sea turtles. I wanted to have one for each of them in the painting and my eldest daughter Rylee likes seahorses, so we wanted to have one of those too. It is a special way to remember that time in my life and connect it to my family, something we can always look at and enjoy. I also wanted to have the little message written to them to remember this year.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and for commissioning me to do this special piece for you. I am so happy that I could create something for you and your family to enjoy for years to come.
There you have it! The first commission story!
~Carly
My daughters are 3 and 21 months. They love the water! We have a dock so I have to bait the crab trap and fish trap every time I come home, and they like to watch and hang out on the dock. This was a christmas gift for them, and they love sea turtles. I wanted to have one for each of them in the painting and my eldest daughter Rylee likes seahorses, so we wanted to have one of those too. It is a special way to remember that time in my life and connect it to my family, something we can always look at and enjoy. I also wanted to have the little message written to them to remember this year.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and for commissioning me to do this special piece for you. I am so happy that I could create something for you and your family to enjoy for years to come.
There you have it! The first commission story!
~Carly