New portrait commission completed: the double children's portrait

It was a joy recently to paint this double children's portrait. I enjoyed capturing their unique personalities and relationship.

Framing at Page-Waterman Gallery in Wellesley (I will post the painting soon framed.), gorgeous dresses from Abigail's Children's Boutique in Wellesley. I highly recommend both businesses for those in the Boston area.


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.

New landscape completed

Cranberry Bog in Winter
9 x 12, linen on professional panel

To see more of my landscape gallery paintings, 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.

The High School Graduation Oil Portrait: a Timeless Treasure

I am working on my third high school portrait in a year, a double of siblings, and I have to say, what an incredibly wonderful thing to have once your child is off at college. As a parent I can fully understand how comforting it would be to have this in one's home once your "child" departs. Photos are of course superb, but a painting goes so much further.

Eighteen is a threshold and what a moment to capture. I get goosebumps thinking about the amazing transition from child to teen to young adult.

So very fortunately these days it is much easier to stay in touch with our children by email, by text, by phone, etc etc. And air travel is so much more "done". However, to have this timeless painting of them . . .!


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.

Why I do what I do: the Happy client. . .

pastel, Wellesley College paramecium pond 24" x 36" SOLD


What is rewarding to me as an artist is the response from my clients when they receive their paintings——and frame and hang them. If I didn't have extremely happy clients, I'd find something else to do.

So after being out for a bit, I came in and checking my email and received a nice surprise to hear from a woman who mid-year last year commissioned me to do an over-sized pastel of her treasured place from her past , "Hi Sonia!
I am sorry it has been so long.
I got the pastel framed today and I am deliriously happy. . . I have my beautiful painting on the wall. It's up . . . and I'm thrilled to tears.
very best - H
and thank you once again! It was a pleasure enjoying the process with you. "

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.

Portrait subject Sarah returns

One of my portrait commission subjects, Sarah, has returned from 2 1/2 months in Taiwan. It's always nice to see the portrait subject with the painting and to compare a bit after the interval of painting. A few small adjustments later——I believe it was 4 brushstrokes her Mom counted——and I am set to varnish and deliver.

The finished oil painting, with better resolution/ saturation, will be up on my website within a week or two.


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.

Painting from Life: the Portrait Sitting

While I do not require a sitting with my portrait subjects, it's always a pleasure to get to know my subjects better and to observe from life while chatting. I promise you it is not a sleepy event; but a nice time to learn a bit more about each other. It's truly a pleasure and honor to paint my subjects and I do appreciate when they are able to take the time to stop by. Even just one hour can be a very beneficial experience and personalizes the painted commission.

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.

Opening Day and Unveilings at Pearle L. Crawford Memorial Library in Dudley, Massaschusetts

Today was the emotional culmination of 10-15 years of planning by the Crawford family and several months of work on my part. The stunning new library was opened with the entire family present from all over the country. The thought and care that went into this gorgeous library was truly heartfelt—–from the teen room where there were tall stools with welcoming and warm decor and computers for the teens to access, as well as cafe-style booths; to murals depicting the charming Dudley town, including one on which showed the time the library opened on the church clock (11:10 am); to an on-going Powerpoint slide show commemorating the family's history. The family with its history of owning mills locally is remarkably generous to provide such a stunning place for the Dudley community to be able to enjoy for decades to come.

It was a delight to work with all the Crawfords who I met along the way through this journey and I was truly honored to be chosen to paint two portraits for them: the posthumous portrait of the library's namesake: Pearle L. Crawford and a double portrait of the predominant benefactors Hugh and Harriet Crawford, Jr.

Also please note the exquisite framing on both paintings. The framing was completed by Page-Waterman Gallery in Wellesley. They placed the oval liner on the painting of Pearle in addition to the frame as we requested. You can always count on Page-Waterman for perfection in framing. They have never let me down.


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.