BEING A PORTRAIT ARTIST

My goal as a portrait painter is first that of an artist. I am committed to creating paintings that will stand the test of time as compelling works of art, alive with the personality of both artist and subject. They have intrinsic value as works of art.  My portraits connect you with the people who matter most.

I think of my work as a celebration and affirmation of life.

Each portrait is an adventure, exploring the unique character and personal strengths of my sitters. A love of people and a deep interest in the human experience is key to my work. My intention is my portrait will stay with your family or business long after we are gone. It’s not about how you look, it’s about who you are for those you love. My training as a painter, actor and musician have all increased my interest in capturing this quintessential dynamic with authority, authenticity and compassion.

Over the years I’ve come to appreciate the transubstantiation of image-to-feeling inherent in a great oil-on-canvas portrait. Nothing else has the power to capture the personality and character of the subject for the ages. Being a portrait artist is about exploring the lyricism of character and dynamics of personality within the painted surface, as if the painting were alive and the subject could walk right out of the painting. It is my intention that you will relive their childhood every time you see their portrait. More than a photograph made to look like a painting, my portraits are the real thing, real art for real people. They are brimming with life. I can’t tell you how many times people have told me it feels as though my subjects could walk right out of the painting. One little girl described my portraits as realer than real. 

My larger goal as an artist is to explore the full range of my medium, which is light. I have developed several bodies of work exploring a variety of structures and subjects, but the poetry of light on form keeps coming back into my work. Light is the force that reveals the subtleties of nature, particularly the human condition. My work is all about what it is to be human and expresses our journey toward the light. Another theme which runs through all my work is something I call surTHRIVal. We are all on a journey of survival, to make the best of what we are given. My larger purpose as an artist is to find and celebrate the many creative ways humans find to overcome and grow as a result of this journey.

Find a top portrait painter near me.

Find the best portrait artist near me