Brad Sneed

Sorry (page 16 -17)

Watercolor

Framed

11 " x 19.75 "

Original illustration created for the picture book, Sorry, published in 2001 by Phyllis
Fogelman Books.

Jacket flap copy:
Ebenezer and Obadiah are brothers. For a long time they live happily on their New England farm, sharing the work. Ebenezer plows the fields and Obadiah milks the cow. Ebenezer cooks, Obadiah cleans. Then one dreary winter morning Obadiah complains that there are lumps in the oatmeal. Ebenezer is sure there are no lumps in his cooking and is very insulted. Splat! He dumps the bowl of oatmeal on his brother's head. The brothers never speak again. Obadiah moves over to the next hillside. Years pass. They both marry, have children, grandchildren, even great-grandchildren, while the feuding continues. Then one day their two great-grandsons come face-to-face
over the stone wall dividing their property. Young Luther accuses his cousin Nathaniel of stealing an apple from his orchard, but before they can start fighting a most surprising thing happens. "Sorry," says Nathaniel. With his one simple act, the boys become fast friends and the silly feud is forgotten. This is a augh-out-loud, endearing story with a wonderful lesson to be learned. Too bad the brothers didn't say...

Art note from Brad:
I felt this passage presented on opportunity to inject a little visual humor. Observed from a low vantage point, Obadiah's cows line up behind a stone wall as if plotting a strategy to invade Ebenezer's corn field. If only we could hear their silent
conversation!

$1,050