In this uplifting, heartwarming novel we will tell the story of Gary, a portrait artist who has mastered the technique of sfumato made famous by Leonardo Da Vinci in The Mona Lisa in which he blended color and light to bridge gaps, cover dividing lines and bring vibrant life to a 2-dimensional portrait. In the book, sfumato becomes a beautiful, yet powerfully moving, metaphor for the healing a broken heart, the mending fractured relationships and the overcoming devastating trauma. The root of the Italian word 'sfumato' is 'fumo' meaning smoke, an agent that blurs together the past with the present, brokenness with healing, and despair with hope. Gary's story is told as a balance of narration, Gary's self-talk, as well as dialogue Gary has with all the helpers he meets along the way returning home to Cleveland. Gary's character development, his new friendships, and his renewed sense of divine purpose make him someone for whom your listeners will want to cheer. Sfumato is a warm, emotional adventure that begs for a sensitive, yet purpose-driven narration. I hope you enjoy presenting Gary's story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
