Acrylic Painting of two brothers

JAMES & STUART

Portrait size: 12" x 16"
​Completed July 2018
Kath had received one of my gift vouchers for Christmas from her thoughtful husband, and scheduled a double portrait of her beloved sons, Stuart and James. The portrait, skillfully crafted with acrylic, was a touching tribute to James, who had passed away in 2012. With the help of a convenient webpage, Kath was able to closely follow the progress of the painting and provide any necessary feedback to ensure the final piece was a true reflection of her cherished memories.
After selecting the reference images and finalizing the composition, I began working on the portraits. Stuart's portrait was the easiest, as I had a good-quality photograph. However, there were fewer photos of James, and the selected image needed more detail, requiring more guesswork than I would have preferred. Throughout the process, I kept Kath informed of the progress. When she and her husband received the finished painting, they were "speechless".
Building up the layers - Finalising the tones and detail of an acrylic portrait painting of two brothers
Finalising the tones on a portrait of Stuart. Still lots of definition to include on James' (Left) portrait.
I was sent multiple pictures of Stuart; however, there was some deliberation over which photo would be the most fitting for the final portrait. Ultimately, Kath made the decision and selected her favourite picture, which turned out to be the best option. Unfortunately, there were only a few pictures of James, and they were lacking in colour and detail. Despite this setback, I made sure to communicate that I could only replicate what I was able to see. Kath was able to monitor the progress of the painting and was thrilled with the outcome.
After thoughtful consideration, Kath decided to have the painting framed and ultimately settled on the Springfield frame. The matte black finish of the frame, with its silver inner trim, was carefully chosen to enhance the color tones of the boys' shirts. The primary goal was to ensure that the frame did not take away from the captivating facial expressions captured within, which is the true highlight of the painting. Kath also ordered some prints of the painting for her family members to have. Since I take the RAW photos for the prints, I ordered a proof copy and followed up with the final order of an A4 and an A3.
Customer Testimonial
" Hi Karen,  What can I say??? I’m speechless!!!  The painting is everything I hoped it would be and more.
We both really love it and you’ll be pleased to hear that once we managed to unwrap it there was no damage.
Allan is busy with his tape measure getting ready to hang the picture, he can’t wait to put it up...(later)
Picture is now up and it looks fabulous!!! You have captured both boys magnificently and we will treasure it always.
I am mesmerised by James’s blue eyes. I can feel them looking at me. My two boys together. 
Thank you so so much. You have done an amazing job and to have it before the 18th means the world to me.
The prints are just perfect and I know my parents will love them too.
Thank you for the sample you sent, I’m going to frame that and put it on my desk.           
Thanks again. "
​
Kath W
West Lothian, UK 

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If you would like a personalised portrait of a loved one or any other subject, take a look at my commissions page or reach out to me via email at: ​[email protected] to share your ideas for the portrait.
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