Hand-painted Portraits: A gift for Generations

Custom portraits enrich a home like no other artwork. Capturing your children in youth is an amazing thing to be able to do.

Here are some considerations in commissioning a portrait:

1. If you have more than one child are you going to have all your children painted at the same time or individually at at certain age?

2. Would you like an indoor or outdoor portrait(s)?

3. What will they wear? Do you want a more formal portrait or casual portrait?

4. What is your ideal timeline for completion of the painting(s)? Are the paintings a gift?

5. Do you have a budget for the painting(s)?

6. Would you prefer an oil or pastel portrait?

Getting started on portraits is as simple as sending an email to explore these topics. We can talk about your timeline and pricing.

I'd love to talk to you about your commissioned portraits. Send me an email and we can get started on your heirloom portraits. To send me an email, please click here soniahale1@gmail.com.

Luxury Gifts for the Man who has Everything: a painting of your Children, Pets or Vacation home view

Choosing the gift for the man who has everything takes some thought. If they truly have all their personal needs taken care of, thinking outside of the box can be fun in gift-giving. A Dad will be very moved by having a portrait commissioned of his children. Since it is just a few weeks before Christmas, a gift certificate can be wrapped and presented.

For more information, please click here: soniahale1@gmail.com.

Choosing the Best of Portrait artists for your Commission: Portrait Artist for hire

Before hiring a portrait artist you need to consider a few things:

1. Before you hire an artist you should ask yourself, do you love the artist's style? Portraits are emotional pieces and a labor of love by the artist, as well as the gift of love by the buyer. These pieces will endure for decades and become a testament of your family's strength.

2. Are you comfortable with the artist——do you trust them to paint your commissioned portraits on time and in the manner you envision? Will they make any changes you request without it becoming a battle? Commissioned portraiture requires a special temperament on behalf of the artist. Where this is not "fine art" to be completed and sold as such, the artist should be very willing to hear your response to the painting(s) and make adjustments if you so desire.

3. What is the artist's background: how many years of study have they taken on? Do they have a proven track record and testimonials which back their abilities?

I have found the vast majority of my paintings are accepted without any adjustments, many with small adjustments done in a half hour or less and a very small percentage have had any more adjustments than that. This was due to the family members having opposing ideas of how they wanted the portrait subject to be portrayed. I work closely with families to be sure they are happy with the finished painting(s).

A comfortable feeling with the artist in all communications is important: that you feel your wishes are being heard.

To discuss a portrait commission please click here: soniahale1@gmail.com. You can rest assured that you will receive your painting on time and to your satisfaction, as I have been painting commissioned portraits for over 15 years. I have a full page of testimonials on my website: www.soniahale.com

Commission a Portrait: Choosing between Oil and Pastel Portraits

Choosing between pastel or oil portraits can take some time and thought. One's family may have the tradition of having pastel portraits commissioned over a period of generations and yet, feel a pull towards oil. Or one may feel the seduction of the pastel strokes, which are a kind of magic in skin tones. Their is a purity in pastel, yet oil portraits are by nature more enduring as they are painted on more permanent materials. Yet, pastels hang in the Louvre which were created many hundreds of years ago. So, how does one choose. . .?

If you are truly torn, I'd consider whether you are able to expect your home to be fairly secure in terms of moisture and humidity. Moisture is damaging in particular to pastels as mold can grow. Your home may well be in wonderful control with climate control and this may not be a factor at all.

Other considerations are how you feel about the piece being framed with glass and the reflective nature of the glass. I personally find that charming.

Cost-wise pastels are traditionally priced at about 75% of an oil painting, for reasons which concern drying of paint and the seemingly more quickly achieved effort of a pastel. I have found that having the colors already in my box, it can be somewhat faster, though one has to find that perfect color—and once one is a very seasoned oil painter, mixing is very quick too.

Most artists today feel that pastels and oils should be priced at the same price point, but honor the age-old tradition of pricing them slightly less.

Framing costs can be higher due to the glass and double matt required for pastel framing, which is labor intensive.

Above are two samples, the top is an oil and the bottom a pastel.

To discuss a commission, please click here.

Family portrait artists: Commissioned Portraits of Children

I am currently painting several paintings for families who enjoy the portrait tradition and when each child is a certain age I once again am capturing them on linen. Painted portraits of children are the gift of a lifetime and I am always honored to be chosen to do these paintings.

To learn more about oil portraits of children and pastel portraits of children, please click here.

Custom Portraits: luxury gifts for men who have everything

Lila
30" x 24"
oil on linen

This custom oil portrait was painted for a husband's 40th birthday gift. Luxury gifts for men who have everything would fit this category of painting that I do each year. What better way to honor one's family than to commission a portrait like this. Custom portraits take some time, so planning ahead is wise.

To learn more about commissioning a portrait, please click here.

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.

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: New Commissioned Portrait Paintings recently added to my website

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.