Luxury Gifts for Men who Have Everything: A Memorable Birthday Gift

It was a pleasure to work with this family on this formal men's oil portrait. I was on a tight deadline, but it was rewarding to paint this for the 4 adult children's 90th birthday gift to their Dad. What a lovely family and I was so happy to see this photo in my email inbox a week or two after delivering the framed painting.


www.soniahale.com

Floral Oil Paintings: paintings of flowers

To learn more about these paintings, please click on my website:

www.soniahalefineart.com

Maine Coast Seascapes: oil paintings of Maine

To learn more about these paintings, please click on my website:

www.soniahalefineart.com

Posthumous Portraits: Getting ready to paint my first Doctor in oil, the International portrait commision

I am honored to have been chosen for a posthumous portrait of a doctor which will hang in a hospital abroad. I will start this soon during the summer. I am pleased to take on portraits that will hang internationally and this one will hang in India to honor this lovely man.

Custom portraits: High School Graduation Oil Portraits—Capturing your teenager in oil before they head to College

I have been enjoying working on the younger male sibling of these two lovely young women. Their mom and I are seasoned pros for this family's desired portrait look: we deftly work the angles and desired look of each portrait, as this is now our third time going through the process. The mom kindly said I'd hit the ball out of the park the first two times.

I consider this to be one of the best times to have an oil portrait painted. Eighteen years is a wonderful time in a young person's life and they are at a crossroads. Their faces mature in the next few years into a more adult look. If you want that more adult look that is also nice, but it is charming to capture the 18 year old before they venture from your home. And when you miss them you have this remembrance, which is comforting.

Luxury Gifts for Dad: Commissioned Men's Oil Portrait unveiled

It was a pleasure to work with this family on their gift for their father for his 90th birthday! What a wonderful idea for the person who has everything and what a lovely way to honor your loved one.

I worked from existing photographs and added the Harvard University tie. Seeing the close family bonds through other special occasions was a delight.

Commission a Portrait: New Men's Oil Portrait unveiled today

It is always a pleasure to be a part of special occasion gifts and planning. Here is one of my latest portraits.

Custom portraits: Upcoming Birthday Unveiling

I'm very pleased to be delivering a new painting this week for a 90 year old gentleman's birthday. It is always an honor to be asked to paint a commission and to mark the date of a 90 year old is very special. Photos to come after the piece is unveiled!

Commission a Portrait, getting ready for the Portrait Commission: Clothing

This is one of the most difficult aspects to the portrait. I have read about how John Singer Sargent used to spend a frantic hour rummaging through women's wardrobes and in a make-shift way put together the outfit for a painting...and request no opinions from the client! This is because for a painting to really sing, the clothes take a major role on the stage. They speak in so many ways and embellish and empower the artist to push the painting to where they wish it to go.

So what to do? I recommend the standard of having 3 outfits on hand. I have also gone through wardrobes, closets, drawers etc to find the treasured garment for a portrait. It feels brash, but that is how important it is...It is very difficult for the non-artist to understand what makes clothing work in a painting and it's hard to communicate, but I'll try:

1. Neckline: V-necks are very flattering to the face. Scarfs can be appealing, but watch they will not become dated.

2. Pattern: less is more

3. Fabric: something that has some shine will be nice for a formal painting

4. Color: this will greatly affect the mood of the painting.





Sonia Hale is an award-winning, nationally-collected artist in Boston. She paints commissioned portraits for families and institutions nationwide. Her original landscape and still life oil paintings can be purchased at http://www.soniahale.com. For more information, go to http://www.soniahale.com. You can reach her by email at soniahale1@gmail.com.

Christmas Secrets— Shh...commission

One of the more rewarding aspects to my work is working on Christmas Secrets... Santa's workshop gets quite busy this time of the year, as these paintings are under time contraints to be put carefully bundled and put on the sleigh. In the past I've painted portraits of children, both group and individual portraits for the gift giver. Children love to be in on secrets like this and pose for photos and maybe a quick sketch— and other times a really good digital photos is all I need.

This year I am painting a surprise painting for Christmas for a family in the Boston area. To make it easier on the person who commissioned this painting, I will have it framed and varnished, so all he will need to do is to wrap it up and put it under the tree...


Sonia Hale is an award-winning, nationally-collected artist in Boston. She paints commissioned portraits for families and institutions nationwide. Her original landscape and still life oil paintings can be purchased at http://www.soniahale.com. For more information, go to http://www.soniahale.com. You can reach her by email at soniahale1@gmail.com.

Christmas Secrets...shh...Custom oil portrait—Triple portrait delivered to the South in time for Anniversary gift!

This custom oil portrait was a delight to do in anticipation of an anniversary gift for a husband as a gift to his wife. The painting traveled to Georgia in time for the special day. Christmas secrets in July, what can be better...

Sonia Hale is an award-winning, nationally-collected artist in Boston. She paints commissioned portraits for families and institutions nationwide. Her original landscape and still life oil paintings can be purchased at http://www.soniahale.com. For more information, go to http://www.soniahale.com. You can reach her by email at soniahale1@gmail.com.

Children's Portraiture: Charcoal portrait of young girl for family in Connecticut

It's always a pleasure to get back to drawing. Here is my latest piece done for a family in Connecticut.

Photographer's credit: Donna Padowitz Photography


Sonia Hale is an award-winning, nationally-collected artist in Boston. She paints commissioned portraits for families and institutions nationwide. Her original landscape and still life oil paintings can be purchased at http://www.soniahale.com. For more information, go to http://www.soniahale.com. You can reach her by email at soniahale1@gmail.com.

Custom Oil Portraits, Please stop by and visit: new website is up: Commissions and Fine Art: Sonia Hale

I have been gathering my creative forces to put together my new Custom Oil Portrait website with adult and children's portrait paintings. Please visit it at website: www.soniahale.com

Sonia Hale is an award-winning, nationally-collected artist in Boston. She paints commissioned portraits for families and institutions nationwide. Her original landscape and still life oil paintings can be purchased at http://www.soniahale.com. For more information, go to http://www.soniahale.com. You can reach her by email at soniahale1@gmail.com.

Custom oil portraits: children's portrait paintings: William

Dudley
oil on linen
28" x 22"
private collection

To go to my children's portrait commissions gallery

Sonia Hale is an award-winning, nationally-collected artist in Boston. She paints commissioned portraits for families and institutions nationwide. Her original landscape and still life oil paintings can be purchased at http://www.soniahale.com. For more information, go to http://www.soniahale.com. You can reach her by email at soniahale1@gmail.com.

Cape Cod Artists: the coast looking to Vineyard Sound

This view took my breath away last summer—even more than the views of the famous lighthouse at Gay Head. The sense of the light reflecting and glistening off the coast was quite notable.



Looking to Vineyard Sound
oil on linen
24" x 36"

Click here to purchase

Sonia Hale is an award-winning, nationally-collected artist in Boston. She paints commissioned portraits for families and institutions nationwide. Her original landscape and still life oil paintings can be purchased at http://www.soniahale.com. For more information, go to http://www.soniahale.com. You can reach her by email at soniahale1@gmail.com.

Children's Portraiture: my latest children's portrait commission

This is my newest custom oil portrait. This young girl is the third generation of New York City family members (at least) who have had their portraits painted at a very young age. I was truly honored to be asked as other family members have been painted by well known artists including Erik Haupt, a New York portrait artist who lived from 1891-1984. It was a pleasure to see the family's portrait collection and to become a part of their family tradition.

As her mother noted she is a self-assured four year old and I was most happy to be sure that all the details were to be finalized to her satisfaction. I was gratified to hear from her that she and her husband were absolutely thrilled with the painting.

www.soniahale.com

Sonia Hale is an award-winning, nationally-collected artist in Boston. She paints commissioned portraits for families and institutions nationwide. Her original landscape and still life oil paintings can be purchased at http://www.soniahale.com. For more information, go to http://www.soniahale.com. You can reach her by email at soniahale1@gmail.com.

Luxury Christmas—Gift certificates for Portraits and Landscapes

For those looking for gifts for loved ones who already have 3 of everything, a gift certificate for a portrait or a landscape of their choosing is a lovely and memorable idea. It's a great way to treat your loved one to something really unique thst the family will always treasure.

Please visit my website to see samples of my work:
www.soniahale.com


Sonia Hale is an award-winning, nationally-collected artist in Boston. She paints commissioned portraits for families and institutions nationwide. Her original landscape and still life oil paintings can be purchased at http://www.soniahale.com. For more information, go to http://www.soniahale.com. You can reach her by email at soniahale1@gmail.com.

Sargent Watercolors (and oils) at Boston Museum of Fine Arts

The Sargent Watercolors exhibition is one of the finest I've attended. Not only were there watercolors, but oils so that you could truly revel in what Sargent was communicating about his feeling for his subject.

It was moving to see in person his gorgeous paintings of his family including his sister Emily Sargent and niece Rose-Marie a frequent model. Seeing photographs of his settings in a few sparse places gave more information that I appreciated.

Sargent did not like to let go (or sell) of his watercolors and I could well see why. This is a fantastic quote from the exhbition catalog: "Sargent's watercolors 'were not to be obtained for love or money, but to fall to the lot of such of his friends as wisely as marry for them for wedding gifts or tumble out of a gondala and need consolation.' " Written by Edward V. Lucas, a popular Bristish writer.


Sonia Hale is an award-winning, nationally-collected artist in Boston. She paints commissioned portraits for families and institutions nationwide. Her original landscape and still life oil paintings can be purchased at http://www.soniahale.com. For more information, go to http://www.soniahale.com. You can reach her by email at soniahale1@gmail.com.

Luxury Christmas—Gift Certificates for Commissioned Art

My commission assignments seem to come in clusters. Sometimes its clusters of landscapes, women, teens or in this current case: young children.

Children's portraiture is special to work on as they are all about "Sieze the Day." Capturing young children accurately is a big responsibility in my eyes. It is stunning how fast they change from one season to the next.

Children's oil paintings and family portraits are an incredibly thoughtful and timeless gift for Christmas, Hanukkah, Birthdays and Anniversaries. For the spouse who has everything, why not treat them to something truly memorable and everlasting—either of your children or your spouse! A heirloom quality work of art will be never forgotten.

I am booked up for this Christmas for Christmas deliveries, but gift certificates are available.


Sonia Hale is an award-winning, nationally-collected artist in Boston. She paints commissioned portraits for families and institutions nationwide. Her original landscape and still life oil paintings can be purchased at http://www.soniahale.com. For more information, go to http://www.soniahale.com. You can reach her by email at soniahale1@gmail.com.

Custom Oil Portrait: Second Graduation portrait for family

It's an honor to be asked to paint a graduation portrait and to continue with each sibling as they grow into young adulthood. What an exciting time to see the children grow up and learn about who they are and where they might be headed...

Here is a recent portrait of a lovely young woman. I have several other teen portraits I will be posting soon.

To go to my Adult and Teen portraits gallery


Sonia Hale is an award-winning, nationally-collected artist in Boston. She paints commissioned portraits for families and institutions nationwide. Her original landscape and still life oil paintings can be purchased at http://www.soniahale.com. For more information, go to http://www.soniahale.com. You can reach her by email at soniahale1@gmail.com.