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Portraits
A successful portrait captures something of the subject’s soul. All
living creatures possess an essence that defines them and sets them apart
from all others. As a portrait artist, my task is to see and translate some
key part of that unique essence in a way that is true, yet loving and respectful.
Portraiture in any medium can successfully capture a subject. There is
nothing inherently less artistic about a photograph than an oil painting.
There is a magic about all successful portraits that an artist creates --
and we are all artists. Somehow the artist’s hand adds a spark of
life to the work. The pencil, brush or camera are simply tools the artist
uses to express the magic.
Personally, I prefer oil portraits. They have for me a majesty and a sense
of permanence that sets them apart from portraits in other media. I also
like the paint, its feel, its smell, and the colors and textures it can
produce. I get no greater satisfaction than from creating a painting that
truly does capture a part of the subject’s soul.
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