Posthumous
 

This was a long distance commission from a husband wanting to give his wife the portrait of her last year gone father as a birthday gift. The client didn't have too many reference photos, and the ones he provided me by email were taken with flash.
I took the job anyway and tried to show the old man with a happy appearance leaving a message like "you know I am OK" to his daughter. Might have worked, because today I've got a quite emotional phone call. Achieved.
Oil, 30cm x 40cm.

Hi Ant,

Are you saying it is completed? Did you just send a photo of it, or did you send the actual painting? If it is out of your hands we could move this to the "Unveilings" section. What do you think?

Moderator's note: I have moved this topic to the Unveilings Section on 7/1/06.

Hi Alexandra,

I've sent the actual painting. It was shipped on Tuesday (framed as in this pic bellow) to Rio Grande do Sul, about 1500km South from here. It took 3 days to get there. The husband had not told his wife about the painting, so it was quite a surprise when she opened the pack.

Should I have posted in the Unveilings section? Can you move it? Please do what you think is better.
Kind regards from Brazil,

Ant

Ant,

This is such a beautiful, sensitiv work. I can totally see how it must have moved the daughter.

Yes Ant,

That's a beautiful, very sensitive portrait! It's perfect. It is so nice to see you in your studio.

Garth

Ant,
I agree with everybody else, this is a very fine portrait of an old charmer. He will live forever because of you.

Allan

Such a warm portrayal Ant! very moving!

Thanks for the encouraging words, guys.
And Alex, thank you for correcting the title ;)

Good inspiration all,

Ant

Ant,

I agree with all, a beautiful, fine portrait.

I am amazed at the remarkable success of such a challenging job. Please note that I am keeping an eye out for more of your work. I will sign off as a new fan and hopefully student who still has a lot to learn.

Inspiring...
 

This would be an impressive portrait if it had been done using excellent reference material. Since I know you accomplished this with less than ideal reference, I can say it is outstanding. I love it! I am preparing to start my first posthumus commission, and this work gives me a high bar to reach for. Congratulations.
Louise

Thank you, John. Louise, I have always been lucky when painting posthumous portraits. I don't know if it's the natural look of oil painting that surprises them, or the way I try to deliver a message to the living folks. Once an old woman even fainted when she was presented to the portrait I'd made of her long gone husband. Others really see me as a messenger and treat me in a so special way like if I had contact with the other side.
If some advice could help, I've found that a posthumous work will achieve more success if you portray your subject in higher keys/tones, clear background, giving a day break morning mood (never night or twilight). Paint the white of the eyes clearer (makes the person look healthy) and define a stronger personality in the look. Everybody miss their dead people and not rarely rate them better than when they were alive.
Above all, try to give a positive meaning in the whole thing.
Works for me :)

Good luck,

Ant

PS: in this particular work posted above I was initially commissioned to paint a 40cm x 60cm head-and-shoulders. After having studied the few ref-photos I convinced my client that the work would look better in a smaller canvas, with a close-up of the head, slightly larger than life-size. Why that? Because the shoulders in the ref-photos always gave a tired look to my subject. Like an old man, tired of living, or suffering of some illness. I didn't want to paint that, and I didn't want to tell a lie either. It was a good decision.

Dear Ant,

I appreciate that you shared your pointers regarding achieving a successful posthumous portrait. I never thought of watching out for the slump of the shoulders or lightening the eyes.

So far I have done 2 portraits in black and white, orders received based on my black and whites that people had seen on my web site.

I personally thought it is strange how a blk/wht character study looks interesting, but a blk/wht posthumous looks like a funeral picture. On the next one, I will take your advise at heart and try to convince the client to go color.

Beautiful portrait.
I think the lighting and skin tones are particularly nice
Moving story as well
Jerome