Unveiling at the Opera House
 

On Thursday night I had a double full-length portrait unveiled at Seattle

Wow, you must have been floating. Can't wait to see the pics, will you have pics of the event itself? Congratulations!

Congratulations Michele, very inspiring to hear and looking forward to seeing the pictures. :thumbsup:
Allan

Oh Michele how exciting!
Congratulations! and can't wait til you get pictures up. . . :)

Michele,

Congratulations, all your hard work is really paying off.

Wonderful to hear that, Michele. Congratulations.

Real Stuff
 

Congratulations, Michelle! That's the REAL stuff dreams are made of! Your work is beautiful.
Carol Norton :thumbsup:

Michele's photos
 

Michele is having some trouble posting her photos, so here are some of them. I wish I could pass them off as being painted by me. Beautiful work, Michele!

Wow Michele and may I say right up front how beautiful you look too!

From baseball to ballet to politics, I just love this!

I can't wait to see the rest of the pictures. This just looks wonderful!

Michele--
What a gorgeous painting! I love how you handled the composition. The closeups are wonderful too!

Michele,

Just wonderful. What an impressive way to present the patrons. You and they must be thrilled! Great composition.

Michele,

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Wow! Stunning composition. I really like the two fold story being told and the art work is smashing as well. Hope you didn't get too many bruises from the many pats on the back you probalby recieved.

Great story, great painting, great event, supergreat artist!

An amazing achievement, Michele - you deserve all the praise from your clients, the unveiling audience, and us as well. Many, many congratulations!!!

I agree with everyone on the composition. It's almost like a self portrait of an artist at his/her studio. Great job.

Is there any space for more compliments???

Congrats!

That's beautiful, gorgeous, stunning... congrats again...

I am so delighted for you!!

Michelle,
When is your book coming out, "How to Market Portrait Art While Loving Your Painting Process"!? How did you get this commission? I am always excited to read about your experiences. We all enjoy sharing your successes vicariously.

Ditto, to Elizabeth's compliment, too. You look maaavelous! And of course, I love your painting too. I can't wait to see more images of it.

How long did this project take??? Were you able to get them for live sittings? Several photo shoots? How much time would you say you spent with the clients? Did they help choose the composition? Did you have more then ten days to paint it ?!!! ;) I just love it.

You're the BEST...

Oh my gosh Michelle, It is absolutey beautiful! Congratulations!

Dear Michelle,
 

Congratulations with the wonderful portrait. Good story in it as well. Patrons is a hard subject to do well, but you certainly succeeded. Brava!

best, Mikael

Thanks, everybody, for your very kind words.

Just to answer various questions: these are not patrons of the ballet. This is the husband and wife team who have been running the ballet for the last 28 years, the Artistic Directors. He's the lead choreographer and she's also the head of the ballet school.

I got this commission by writing a letter back in January to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the ballet. I had heard in the news that this was to be the last season for these two Artistic Directors and I suggested the idea of doing a portrait to the Board. I also sent 8x10 prints of some of my work. They called me right back and set up a meeting.

I met with the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and the two Artistic Directors a few times: once to plan the painting, once to do the photo shoot, and once to unveil the painting privately for them a few weeks before the official unveiling for the patrons was to be held. I wanted to be sure they all liked it before we showed it to everyone else!

Not counting planning and follow up (which accounted for a month or so of work in itself) the actual painting on canvas took about two months. This was another of those deadline things, though thankfully I had more than 10 days in which to paint it!

So Michele...

When can I be you?

All the best--TE

(Nice seeing you in DC)

Michele,

Thank you for sharing how you got the commission. Very good marketing! I am not only ALWAYS impressed with your beautiful paintings, but how you get business. You are becoming a mover and a shaker in Seattle by the high profile portraits you have been painting. I really admire this about you! Please post other pics of the painting when you can as the composition looks very impressive.

Thanks again,
Patty

I'm going to try and post some more of Michele's photos:

Thanks, Linda!

Congratulations Michelle!

Wow it is great to see you reaping your rewards. Thanks for sharing with us. Well Done! Look out Seattle!

I have been away for a bit and just logged on to see this. Michele, I couldn't be happier for you. It is so good to read about great success stories. I love it.

What an absolutely beatiful painting!

It takes a lot of initiative and courage to get where you are Michele, thanks for teaching us that. A huge congratulations to you!

~Carolyn

Michelle,

This is such a beautiful and inspiring work of art - Congratulations, much praise and Bravo!


Edgar

Dear Michele,

My apologies for checking in so late! WOW.WOW. I need to do much more gushing, you are awesome!

I am so thrilled for you!

Funny little animations, Edgar. Made me laugh out loud!

Michele, This painting is so outstanding! I am equally in awe of how you got the commission. You are the protrait artist supreme.

Vianna Szabo

Michelle,

Congratulations. This commission is a result of your hard work (and obvious talent). Your well deserved success is an inspiration to aspiring portrait artists like myself.

Sincerely,

Let me add my congrats too!!
 

Great portrait! Ditto to everything already said.
The heads are really sensitively painted. I like the softness and the glow you achieve and your way of modeling form and still keeping the color vibrant. The gestures of the figures and the way they interact with each other seems to strike the perfect note. I like what you did with the man's foot. It is all so in keeping with the spirit of the painting.

This is really a "double, double" portrait, very ambitious. I'm certain that it is even more impressive in person, and it is understandable that everyone involved is very pleased. Congratulations again!!

Michelle-

I'm so sorry it took me so long to catch this thread but am I glad I did. What a fantastic venture and the result is inspiring.

Congratulations are indeed well deserved.

PS Did I mention that I like the painting, the composition, the feel, the spirit?

Michele, remember the saying:"Is it life or is it Memorex?"
Absolutely stunning work, congratulations!

Michele,

This is so impressive, I would love to see it in person! Congrats, you deserve every bit of the praise that is being showered all over you.

Jean

Michele, I'll just can't not add my voice to the chorus of praise.
What a beautiful masterpiece
Ilaria

Fantastic work Michele. I love those vibrant orange edges and reflected lights. And congratulations again on all these latest commissions!

~Gear

Wow! I just found this thread and I am so impressed with how you composed and executed this portrait! It is so exciting to see. I couldn't find the dimensions. Is is about 60" high?

Alex

Wow, Michele! I missed seeing this when it first came out. What a beautiful piece! Love the composition, lighting, the lovely way the wife is holding her husband's arm and how he is leaning back towards her, love the colors. This is wonderful!