Gigi

Number three of five granddaughters I've been commissioned to paint.

"Gigi"   14" x 11"   Oil

"Sumner"

Another recently delivered commissioned portrait.  The second of five granddaughters. 

"Sumner"   14" x 11"   Oil

Jewell

A recently delivered portrait commission.  The first of five granddaughters.

"Jewell"  14" x 11"  Oil  

Vera at the Farm

A commissioned portrait of Vera -- on her family's farm in South Carolina.

"Vera"   40" x 32"   Oil

Portrait of Clyde Tuggle

Mr. Clyde Tuggle -- Collector of antique books, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Agnes Scott College in Atlanta (for whom this portrait was painted) and Senior Vice President of Coca Cola.

"Clyde Tuggle"   44" x 32"   Oil

Hazel

A commissioned portrait for a surprise Christmas gift.

"Hazel"   14" x 11"   Oil

Jenna and JuliAnna

"Jenna and JuliAnna"   48" x 36"

I first painted a small study for the portrait to show my client the composition, color and feeling I envisioned for the painting.

"Study for Jenna and JuliAnna"   12" x 9"   Oil

This composition was transferred to a large canvas, making drawing adjustments as I scaled up the study.

Painting begins.

Detail of the finished portrait.

Portrait of Michael Marsicano

A commissioned portrait of Michael Marsicano, President and CEO of Foundation For The Carolinas  --  and Chairman of the Board of Queens University, for whom this was painted.

"Michael Marsicano"   40" x 30"   Oil

Portrait of Jack Peltason

I've been working on a series of portraits of former Chancellors for the University of California at Irvine.  The most recent subject is Jack Peltason, who served from 1984 to 1992.  He was a constitutional scholar and a renowned leader in higher education -- with a modest manner and a homespun sense of humor.

"Jack Peltason"  30" x 24"  Oil

Governor Rick Perry Portrait Unveiling

Texas Governor Rick Perry's portrait was unveiled last Friday at the State Capitol and the mystery is now solved. 

 He is not wearing his glasses.

"Governor Rick Perry"   30" x 25"   Oil

Quite a crowd was invited to the ceremony in the rotunda.

Mrs. Perry lifted the veil with the help of an artist who happened to be in the building.

The Governor with and without his famous glasses.

After the ceremony was over and the crowd had dispersed, the portrait was hung in its permanent place.  

(It looked much bigger in my studio.)

Mystery Portrait

Mystery surrounds this portrait.  

At least that's what this 2015 news story in the Houston Chronicle suggested.  About a year ago I painted it for the State of Texas but I haven't been allowed to show it yet.   I can't divulge any information, such as whether my subject is wearing his glasses or not.

After I finished the painting, the curator of the Texas State Capitol, Ali James, came by my studio to wrap the portrait and take it back to Austin to be put in storage until its unveiling in the Capitol building rotunda... 

That will happen May 6th and then I'll be free to show it.

(You can read more about it here in an article that appeared in the Houston Chronicle earlier this week.)

Dean William B. Lawrence - Southern Methodist University

Portrait of Dean William B. Lawrence, retiring after 14 years of service as Dean of the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

"Dean William B. Lawrence"   40" x 30"   Oil

Time-Lapse Video - "Virginia"

Video by Justin Tennison

"Virginia"   30" x 25"   Oil

Governor Bill Clements 2

I recently finished a portrait of former Texas Governor Bill Clements for the Clements Center in Austin, Texas.  It's my second commission to paint this governor so I'm getting to know his face quite well.
                           

The start.

The finish.

"Governor Bill Clements"   30" x 24"   Oil