January issue of Fine Art Connoisseur

I understand that the new issue is being released. I'm looking forward to seeing several of my paintings in this issue.

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.

Live Painting Event: I will be painting the editor of Fine Art Connoisseur on July 16th

I am honored to be painting Peter Trippi, the Editor of the gorgeous magazine Fine Art Connoisseur, on July 16th from 3-6 pm at the Civic Center in Old Greenwich along with others from the Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists. Fine Art Connoisseur is one of the most beautifully designed and printed art magazines available. Mr. Trippi will be writing about his experience in an upcoming issue.

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.

Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists presents award to Everett Raymond Kinstler

The photos above are from the CSOPA presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to Everett Raymond Kinstler yesterday at UCONN in Stamford, Connecticut. In introductory remarks Mr. Kinstler's illustrious years of painting six U.S. presidents, actresses/actors such as Katherine Hepburn and Paul Newman, and others including Donald Trump and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani were noted. In addition the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery owns over 100 of his works.

Shane Neal presented the award to Mr. Kinstler after his wonderful roast heralding Mr. Kinstler's many charming characteristics. Those who have been able to attend his workshops and receive mentoring on any level have been touched by his warmth and generosity. A few years back at the 2008 Portrait Society of America conference he spoke about the vast number of Artists who had influenced his work, and especially those who had been teachers/friends, "They made my life richer." That can most certainly be said about Mr. Kinstler to this generation of artists. He has seen the majority of the portraits I have painted over the past decade, since the time I was bringing portraits into the Copley Society for him to critique in the early 2000's. I have had critiques from him that made me dig deep to work harder to be worthy. He has been prodding me, telling me how to do it better, always.

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.

The artistic lineage of Everett Raymond Kinstler: authenticity

The photos above are of Ray Kinstler demonstrating at the Art Student's League in New York in 2006.

I recently received an email requesting more in-depth information regarding my statement that ERK is a second-generation student of John Singer Sargent. Who was my source for this information and who exactly did Mr. Kinstler learn from?

Mr. Kinstler's protégée, Shane Neal, who is himself a premier Master painter: www.michaelshaneneal.com, mentioned the lineage a few years back. In addition here are more details. Gordon Stevenson studied with John Singer Sargent and Joaquin Sorolla. (Sorolla has been, I would say, of near equal influence on Mr. Kinstler. ) Stevenson took a liking to Ray Kinstler and he shared with him lessons from Sargent and Sorolla. Ray also was taught by Frank DuMond, and James Montgomery Flagg who also knew/met/traveled within the circles of Mr Sargent. There is more to the story, but I'm going to stop there.

Mr. Kinstler is being honored in Connecticut next Friday, February 5th, by the Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists (CSOPA), of which I am a member. Shane will be presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to Mr. Kinstler.

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.

Arts to the Avenue in Greenwich, Connecticut on the occasion of the Greenwich Arts Council's 35th anniversary

It was great to be in Greenwich, Connecticut on Saturday drawing portraits in charcoal and catching up with my fellow CSOPA artists. That the weather held up was wonderful. I made many new friends in Connecticut and really appreciated the Starbucks cappuccino one gracious and happy portrait subject brought to me! It's always a pleasure to be able to chat with one's portrait subjects, which enables one to bring more of their personality into the work. I also want to take a moment to thank those sitters as I was so very impressed with their ability to sit still for 30 + minutes, even the younger ones!

To see my portrait commissions click here

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.