Custom Portraits Painted in Oil for Mother’s Day

What mother wouldn’t delight in a portrait oil painting of her children on Mother’s Day?

When Dave saw a clip on TV where I showed the client-artist experience of producing a child’s oil portrait, he conceived his idea— three beautiful blonde daughters captured in custom portraits painted in oil as a gift for his wife. After all, he hadn’t become a mastermind titan of business by watching the world pass him by.

He called me and told me of the surprise he was planning. I asked him if he would like the three together in the same painting or would he prefer to have them painted separately. He asked why would someone want separate portraits? —So they could each inherit their own, of course. Hmm…. That intrigued him, but then where would he hang them? This brought on arrangements for me to come to his house to check out the feasibility of three separate spots. Of course, while I was there, we heard the garage door open as the lady of the house was arriving. Well, it was definitely too late to scram. Dave picked up on the bewildered atmosphere that surrounded me and laughed lightly.

He quickly advised not to be alarmed, he often has clients over to his home office. When I met her I had changed my demeanor to nonchalance. I was actually glad now to have a concept of my future audience. The girls also raced through and I could see how totally cute they were. Fortunately, I had had the tour and was ready to give my advice which I did as Dave walked me to the car. After looking at the house, I told him how the three-portrait idea could work. His large entrance opened into a high-ceilinged room featuring a grand piano. There was a wall that was visible to everyone entering from the front door. Even the family could enjoy them many times a day as they passed by to access the family room/kitchen area. It was plenty big enough to hold all three custom portraits painted in oil and with indirect natural light to boot.

Next came the photoshoot for my references. Easter had just occurred, so Dad and three scrubbed and giggly girls, ages 5, 7 and 9, arrived at my door with arms full of Easter dresses, hair combs, bows and petticoats. As we entered our photo studio, I helped the girls get themselves arranged. They were three sweet princesses—just shy enough to charm. We photographed them separately and then together.

This is how Mother’s Day came into the equation for this portrait: We had planned to photograph them in one picture and give him a photo of that to be part of his official Mother’s Day offering. This had an additional advantage in that the girls, especially the youngest, only had to keep a secret for a week or two at which time they received their photo print and the whole adventure could float smoothly into the past behind them. The surprise “belated” Mother’s Day present would come later.

Later, as I worked on the paintings, I included the colors and atmosphere of their house in all the backgrounds. I painted the girls as if in separate, possibly adjoining rooms. Meanwhile I got the framing underway— Dave chose 22-karat gold-leaf, hand-carved and hand-moulded, museum-quality frames that set off my work and suited the high-ceilinged piano entrance hall that the paintings were destined for.

When the portraits were done many months later, the girls were indeed surprised. Of course for the thrilled mother, she was beside herself with joy. I wasn’t there but I heard about it. Surprise portraits are always fun. You know your recipient is going to love them because they are so attached to the subject matter.

When Dave came to pick up the framed portraits for the big occasion, he had told me, “Oh, my god. Aren’t they wonderful! They’re beautiful. It’s like you took them and put them on the canvas. They’re everything I ever hoped they would be.” A bit later, he bought a gift certificate of my portraits to show appreciation to a business contact and he told me how his family enjoyed the girls’ portraits every day, though the subjects were outgrowing them by leaps and bounds.

Here’s to Mother’s Days! And while we’re at it–Father’s Days! All right–all special occasions. May there be lots of custom portraits painted in oil. See what kind of portrait might suit you on my website. Call to talk to me at 727-442-5553. Email any time. Here’s looking at you!

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