Portraits done by a sensitive hand
in oils or pastels have not ever been surpassed by photography.
A painting can tell more, capture more,than a photograph will
ever be able to; and the 'life' of a properly executed painting
can be hundreds of years. A photograph fades within a couple of
decades. James' portrait works grace residences in Tampa and St
Petersburg as well as homes in several other states and other
countries. Striving to emulate the old masters in this genre,
James has closely studied the techniques of painters as diverse
as Frans Hals, Rembrandt, Sergeant and Titian, working in these
time tested methods.
Careful drafting of the initial image is a keystone of this tradition
and the person who is the subject of a portrait sits for two live
modeling sessions. The composition can then be finished with reference
materials. James favors both oils on canvas as well as pastels
on paper in creating portraits. As a keepsake or a gift that truly
keeps on giving, gathers sweetness as time goes by and the fleeting
stages of life pass, a portrait of a child or loved one is a precious
thing indeed. |
