When Small is Mighty

This portrait has been extra special to paint, I created it for one of my closest childhood friends as her wedding present. It was such an honour to paint.

Unfortunately her dad passed away about 10 years ago but that didn't mean his presence wasn't there at her wedding.

His sarcastic humour was carried through her eldest brother who took the mick out of her during his speech, retelling stories of their father's dismay at their childhood antics! His stature and characteristics were viable in her younger brother and his laid back demeanor came through my friend who instead of stressing, calmly soaked in the day.

It was an emotional painting to create because I wanted to get through the warmth of the father-daughter bond the pair had which I felt this protective image portrayed through it's embrace and the warm greys I decided to work in.

I hope it shows how she will always be a daddy's girl and provide a tangible source of comfort.

Memorial portraits are definitely the most difficult yet rewarding portraits to create - they're loaded with emotion and require a duty to put my utmost into.

I usually do all I can to find out the characteristics, personality and life story of the person I'm painting which helps me build up a mental picture. This in turn informs which colours to work with, type of brush strokes, the most suited medium to paint in and what should be the painting's focal point.

Although each portrait is a challenge and honour to paint, the impact of receiving a memorial portrait makes all the additional effort they require more than worthwhile and heartwarming when I hear responses like my friend's:

Mini portraits like this one may be small in size, and appear unassuming or quiet, but the impact they have is huge!

The painting commands a person's full attention asking them to enter it's world. Physically, the viewer begins to move, they lean in, focus and steady themselves as they become silent - it can be very moving to witness.

I had not anticipated them to be quite so powerful when I began making mini portraits which makes me even more in love with working in this scale at the minute.

Mini portraits are perfect for old photographs or images with little detail and are the perfect way of re-framing a memory or moment in time into a painting you'll have for life.

If you're thinking of commissioning a mini portrait for yourself or as a gift for a loved one, contact me and tell me about who you'd like painted and what it means to you.

You can also sign up to my Studio Notes where you're privy to 10% off your mini portrait

Or if you'd like to give a mini painting a go yourself, I've put together my 12 tips for painting small with all the things I consider before, during and after the painting is completed.