THE PROCESS

The face is a map of a person’s travels. The face and eyes, in particular, tell a complex and exciting story. This is even true of the “poker” face. The supposed lack of expression cannot erase time etched clues such as wrinkles or the way the mouth pulls. If I look at the face only, without the personality, I see small shapes slapped onto an orb that is called the head. It doesn’t tell me everything I need to know.

Body language and physical expression have definite impact on the communication of emotion and personality. It is true that some body language goes hand in hand with particular emotions. For me it is the face that tells the real story. For example, during the winter months I go into my backyard to sit in the sun. I sit at a table with my head resting over my arms so the sun can hit my back. One day my neighbor caught a glimpse of me and was concerned about how distraught I looked. When she called out to me I raised my head, eyes drowsy with contentment. She saw a look of real happiness as I felt the sun beating through my clothes into my cold, aching muscles. We laughed when she heard my sigh. It was a very warm and wonderful day in January. My neighbor had misread my body language.

The real map I use to travel the road to an EXTREME PORTRAIT is the personality. The heart and spirit of each person is unique. Eyes don’t sparkle just because light hits them. There is life inside eyes. A mouth isn’t always turned down because of sorrow. Sometimes these things are just plain old genetics and betray the real personality.

How does it start? We talk. We visit. When the person feels comfortable I take some photographs to work from. Nothing formal. We discuss the desires of the person such as mood and color. Nothing is off limits in our discussion and it is confidential. Then, off I go.... to study, draw and finally paint. My goal is to honor the personality and spirit of each individual.

EXTREME PORTRAITS is a personal experience with fine art.

Painting personalities since 1991

What is an Extreme Portrait? Simply put, it is a beautiful portrait painted from the inside out. It is a portrait of the personality finished by adding the face. The painting is alive, vibrant and tells a one of a kind story. The portrait is art to be cherished. An Extreme Portrait is documentation of a person... for themselves, their families and posterity. Portraiture is a tradition with a long history. Extreme Portraits are a part of that tradition.

It is not only my profession but also my honor to paint people who are eager to express themselves. A life well lived is a story. The painting is collaboration in the purest sense and because of this something is released and revealed in both of us. My clients and I have a genuinely happy personal experience. We have fun! We laugh...even when sorrow has been expressed. Living is for sharing and each person I paint touches me in a profound way. An Extreme Portrait is a beautiful and luminous story.