Posthumous portrait: On the easel

I am currently working on a posthumous portrait for a lovely young woman. She lost her Mom so early in her life and therefore I am honored to paint this commission of her mother. It will be on the smaller side and I started it at 8 x 10, but now just this morning decided the painting will look better at 9 x 12 and I know she'll be pleased that the painting will be larger. This is a design decision, based upon my years of graphic design and 17 years of painting commissioned portraits. I am most decidedly not a factory, but hopefully at the end of the day, a place with an intersection of thoughtfulness, care, art and joy.

I am eager to complete a few paintings in my studio before Christmas and I'm working hard on the weekends and doing my holiday shopping during the week.

To commission a painting, please email me at soniahale1@gmail.com.

Luxury Gifts: Best Luxury Gifts for Her

With consideration of some possibilities for Christmas, Anniversary Gifts or Birthday Gifts, a commissioned painting is a lovely idea for the woman who has everything. What could be more exciting than to have a portrait painted of oneself to have for forever?

There are some things to consider: would you like to have a gift certificate to wrap? Or is there a photo (ideally professional or high resolution) which would translate well to a painting?

Do you want to commission a head and shoulders painting or a 3/4 figure to include hands? A full length is available as well.

If you'd like to see more samples of my work, please click here.

To send me an email to discuss a portrait commission, please click here: soniahale1@gmail.com.

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.

Commission a Portrait: what age is best to paint a child, oil or pastel portrait

Continuing on in decision-making for a portrait commissions:

The next decision that a parent needs to make if they choose individual portraits, is how old do they want their children to be when painted.

I have been painting several families child by child, as they become a certain age. I find that 4 years old is very popular for those with several children. The other very popular age is, of course, 18 year old. Most families who choose to have group portraits done have them done while the children are young, all in grade school or mostly if not all in high school.

I have painted a few middle schoolers too and they seem to capture a genuine quality of what is to come in the child. Before all that serious growing up...

So in short there is no perfect time, but rather how you best wish to have your child represented as the years go on...and speaking of which, once the children move on to college you will be so happy to have their painted presence in your home!



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.

Commission a Portrait...Full Length Girl's Oil Portrait unveiled for family in the South

Katie Blair
28" x 40"
oil on linen

It was a joy to work on this painting of this little Southern Beauty. Capturing her charm in her dear gesture was my goal. Her parents were extremely pleased and I was very happy to be entrusted to paint their daughter. Photo supplied by the ever-talented Elizabeth Dondis of New Orleans.

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.

Portraiture Artists: Looking back to Connie Pratt pastel workshop on Cape Cod

That is me, second from the left.

It's always fun to look back and remember some of the fantastic workshops I was able to attend, as I was learning about fine art portraiture! Here is a photograph taken by Connie Pratt (Constance Flavell Pratt). Connie was an excellent teacher who gave a demo in the am the first Monday of the weeklong workshop, and then let us learn by painting all day, every day for the rest of the week. There was a new model each day and we spent the entire day painting (in pastel) each one!

I learned so much from the time at the easel and with her fine critiques. When you are really trying to make progress you take all critiques with the intention of improving.

Connie taught me some very subtle things about pastel and I'll always be grateful to her for that.

When I saw her last, with her lovely sister Jane, Jane said they'd agreed I was her best student, which was very kind of them.


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: Photo from Client: Triple portrait framed, gifted and hung in Georgia!

Hearing from my clients and receiving word that the custom oil portrait has been framed, hung and is being enjoyed by all is one of the most rewarding aspects to my work. I have also found that framed original artwork adds a level of enrichment to a home that cannot be matched by prints or other works. Portraits go even deeper than this and provide an everlasting record of one's love for the portrait aubjects.

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.

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.

Best of Worldwide Portrait and Figurative Artists: my page layout

The art department has done a fabulous job with the spread featuring my paintings, which will be printed early next year in the Best of Worldwide Portrait and Figurative Artists. I'm so pleased they contacted me to ask to include my images. I am truly honored to be featured in this book.

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.

My portraits were recently chosen to be included in the Best of Worldwide Portrait and Figurative Artists book

I am very happy to announce that my portraits will be reproduced in the Best of Worldwide Portrait and Figurative Artists book this fall. There will be a two-page full color spread. I was chosen out of "thousands of artists both on and off line".

I will post a photograph of the pages once the book comes out.

Sonia Hale is an award-winning, nationally-collected artist living 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.