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.