A Father and Son Embracing at the Wedding Ceremony | Acrylic Painting
JIMMY & CRAIG
Portrait size: 12" x 16"
on Ampersand Gessobord
on Ampersand Gessobord
Completed: October 2024
20th August 2024
Hi, I am considering getting a portrait commissioned (30x40 acrylic) on behalf of my friend whose father has recently passed. The picture I have is taken indoors, although well lit, when his father surprised us all by making it to his wedding day despite being critically ill. It was a pivotal moment in his life and I would love it captured by yourself and I think it would help him through the grieving process.
Hi, I am considering getting a portrait commissioned (30x40 acrylic) on behalf of my friend whose father has recently passed. The picture I have is taken indoors, although well lit, when his father surprised us all by making it to his wedding day despite being critically ill. It was a pivotal moment in his life and I would love it captured by yourself and I think it would help him through the grieving process.
In August 2024, Daniel reached out to me with a formal request for an acrylic painting measuring 12" by 16". The artwork was to capture a poignant moment of a friend embracing his father during the wedding ceremony, particularly significant as the father was critically ill and not anticipated to attend the event. Following the father's recent passing, Daniel commissioned this piece as a meaningful gift to honour his friend's birthday in December, with the hope that it would provide comfort during this difficult time of mourning.
Please continue reading to obtain a deeper understanding of the commission process, which includes videos and images, as well as to view the framed portrait and the client's feedback.
Please continue reading to obtain a deeper understanding of the commission process, which includes videos and images, as well as to view the framed portrait and the client's feedback.
I find the challenge of portraiture to be highly rewarding. As an artist, I thrive on challenges, and I view portraits as particularly complex and engaging. While much of my work centers around pets, I genuinely value the opportunity to broaden my scope when clients express interest in portrait commissions. One specific request for this painting included the phrase "Everybody goes, Nobody leaves." Although I typically avoid incorporating text in my artwork, I recognised the phrase's significance to the recipient and aimed to position it appropriately so that it complemented rather than overshadowed the main subjects. Consequently, I was able to integrate the text in a manner that preserved both cohesion and visual appeal.
The primary challenge I faced while working on this composition was the repetitive nature of the brickwork. I aimed to incorporate multi-coloured bricks in the wall while ensuring they remained subdued in the background, so as not to distract from the main subjects. This required careful consideration and time. To achieve a softer colour palette, I applied a transparent layer of white and used a dry brushing technique. This effect can also be observed subtly at the edges of the painting, which helps to direct the viewer's focus toward the primary subjects upon first inspection.
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The three time-lapse videos provided above and below showcase important stages of the painting process. The first two videos emphasise the detailing of the jackets, while the third video concentrates on the creation of the skintones on the face and head. Although the videos are concise, they encapsulate approximately two hours of work each. Offering these videos as part of the commission process enhances the overall experience for the client, allowing them to witness the creation of the artwork. Additionally, it enables the recipient of a gifted portrait to appreciate the process from inception to completion.
Why the green base tones?
You will observe that green base tones have been applied in areas designated for skin tones. You may be wondering about the purpose of this technique; allow me to clarify. The green underpainting created by the pigment colour Terre Verte, helps in achieving more lifelike flesh tones. Allow me to share a brief history of this technique. Terre Verte (Green Earth) is a historic pigment used by artists, particularly in medieval and Renaissance portrait painting. It's applied as a green underlayer (verdaccio) before adding skin tones. This helps neutralise red and pink hues in flesh tones, creating more realistic and balanced skin colours. The underpainting also adds depth and dimension to the artwork.
You will observe that green base tones have been applied in areas designated for skin tones. You may be wondering about the purpose of this technique; allow me to clarify. The green underpainting created by the pigment colour Terre Verte, helps in achieving more lifelike flesh tones. Allow me to share a brief history of this technique. Terre Verte (Green Earth) is a historic pigment used by artists, particularly in medieval and Renaissance portrait painting. It's applied as a green underlayer (verdaccio) before adding skin tones. This helps neutralise red and pink hues in flesh tones, creating more realistic and balanced skin colours. The underpainting also adds depth and dimension to the artwork.
Portraiture represents a deeply personal endeavour for an artist. Any inaccuracies can be readily apparent and may detract from the overall quality of the work. Creating lifelike portraits necessitates a consistent, methodical approach, along with a regular practice of stepping back and assessing the progress. While this may be less essential for pet portraits, it becomes particularly crucial when working on personal portraits of loved ones. In those instances, I find it essential to concentrate even more diligently to achieve the desired level of perfection.