Time present and time past
Are both perhaps present in time future,
And time future contained in time past . . .
all time is eternally present.
T. S. Eliot
I thought I’d start by starting at the beginning—artistic inspiration and teachers. Many of today’s portrait artists speak reverently of John Singer Sargent. He was one of the first artists I came to know and love as I took in the Boston Museum of Fine Art’s collections as a child. I adored “The Daughters of Boit,” a painting which is a brilliant work. If you study the painting closely you'll notice the intriguing abstact qualites in the background.
Once I became enamored with portraiture, I was delighted to meet and watch Everett Raymond Kinstler—the renowned painter of 6 presidents, countless cabinet members, college dignitaries and luminaries—paint in 1999 at the Copley Society in Boston. His lush skin tones appeared to turn seamlessly and he captivated us with his stories and finesse. Mr. Kinstler is a gifted storyteller and speaker, and as John Silber, the former president of Boston University said, “If you put duct tape over Ray’s mouth, he cannot paint.” He tried to make it clear that his demonstrations are like a stunt and that many hours are required to create a finished work. We all had a had time believing him as he began painting.
I later learned that Mr. Kinstler is a second generation student of JSS. He also masterfully creates with reality and abstraction in breathtaking strokes. His portraits/figures are always sculptural and feel weighted. Please see www.everettraymondkinstler.com. Since that time I have been able to take more workshops with Ray and obtain his advice on most of the portraits I have painted from the earliest ones to my most recent. I carried a large pastel triple-portrait commission into the Copley Society in Boston one year, to get insight into my work. Ray has displayed vast generosity to many of us seeking to be better artists.
His protégé, Michael Shane Neal is also a master. I was lucky to attend a workshop with Shane a few years back. His work can be seen at www.michaelshaneneal.com. Shane demonstrated from life; painted an ears, eyes and nose sample and began one commission. Shane was so kind and pleasant throughout the week, giving of his enormous talent, insight and time while also providing such extremely entertaining stories our stomachs hurt from laughing.
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.
