The incomplete painting sat in their new home’s garage for years before they figured out a way to ready it for more painting, ultimately gluing the backside to plywood. It was a painstaking procedure, and the painting was nearly destroyed in the process; but they succeeded—and “Quebec 1970” was finished in 1976.
The painting stayed with the Ortons through two more job-related moves, which ultimately brought them back to Colorado in 1981. Around that time, Marinell Orton decided her painting needed one final addition—her oldest daughter, who wasn’t in the original vacation photo. “She was 14 at the time, and she didn’t want to be photographed,” Marinell Orton explains.
Too big to tote
For 37 years, “Quebec 1970” was part of the family. But when the Ortons moved to Wind Crest, they decided that the oversized painting was just a bit much.
“Our kids’ homes were already fully decorated, so we had to figure out what to do with it,” says Bob Orton. “We wanted it to go someplace where it would be enjoyed.”
Shortly thereafter, they learned Quebec was gearing up for its 400th anniversary, so they corresponded with city officials and offered the painting as a donation. It was graciously accepted by the Quebec City Office of Tourism, where it would be seen by some 70,000 visitors per year. The Ortons were thrilled, and they decided to deliver it in person.
They embarked from Wind Crest in late September with “Quebec 1970”—encased in foam and doublewrapped in plastic—strapped to the roof of their car. Three days and 2,100 miles later, they arrived.
“The Tourism Office had a spot ready for it, and they hung it up right away,” Marinell Orton says.
Home sweet home
Since returning from their trip, the Ortons have been enjoying everything Wind Crest has to offer.
“I’ve never worked out before,” Bob Orton says, “but now I do it regularly because it’s so convenient.”
Free from worries like shoveling snow and home maintenance, Marinell Orton has had time to decorate the couple’s new apartment home, choosing custom wall colors and configuring the layout to emulate their last house.
Amid the paintings sprinkled throughout—including around 30 by Marinell—a smaller version of “Quebec 1970” hangs just over their dining room table. “We had a few reproductions made before we took it to Quebec,” she says.
Now that Marinell Orton has more free time to dedicate to her creative interests, she’s set her sights on the spare bedroom. “I chose our second bedroom as my new studio,” she says. “There’s such beautiful light in there.”
Laden with historic photographs of their ancestors, along with other sentimental keepsakes and artful creations, this room is the perfect place to get started on her next round of art projects.
“I need to finish a painting I started of Bob’s childhood home, and I have my holiday cards to make too,” she says. Every year, she makes around 100 of them—each designed and colored by hand.