I painted a portrait of Tom a few weeks ago. He is pictured here right in his element walking with a greyhound. He was a very keen competitor in greyhound racing. He is sadly passed away now and his daughter Stacey commissioned this painting of him to hang in her new home which she moved into this summer. She wanted something large enough with some impact and commissioned the painting in the size of 40 x 30 cm. She asked me to frame the painting and I got it framed by my local framer in a limed wood canvas tray frame.
I worked from one photograph for the portrait of Tom. Stacey kindly gave me another reference photograph for Tom’s face which was very helpful when capturing his likeness.
I wanted to capture the pure concentration on Tom’s face. His grey hair flowing in the autumn air and all the autumnal colours working so effectively as a the backdrop in the composition. I removed some detail from the background, including another man and the fence on the left.
Stacey was very happy with the painting when finished and couldn’t wait to hang it in her family home:
Hi Ivana! Wow ? that looks amazing!! I love the background and how well you have captured his facial expression, it’s so realistic!! Thank you so so much, I can’t wait to hang it in our new home.
Stacey about the commission of her Dad walking at a greyhound race, Freshford, county Kilkenny, Ireland, July 2024
The frame complimented the finished painting being a neutral coloured one with a very simple square profile. I usually choose these frames as they work so well with the colour in my portraits and paintings I feel.
Hi Ivana! I will send you a photo when we hang my Dads portrait in our new home. I’m beyond grateful to you for it, I will highly recommend your work to my friends and family. Thank you again.
Stacey in one her emails to me while waiting for her portrait to arrive in county Kilkenny
I started the painting with a line sketch in yellow ochre followed by colour blocking and adding detail. I work with a small round brush for the sketch to make sure I capture all the detail, but most importantly the likeness of the person or pet whose portrait I am creating. The colour blocking stage is completed with a wider flat brush at first and I then move onto a smaller sized flat brush before adding some final detail with a small round brush again. The entire time of the painting process is filled with taking a step back from the portrait and reassessing the likeness of the subjects moving my eyes from painting to photograph.
I took some photographs of the process and the finished painting. Stacey also asked me to put Tom’s name on the edge of the painting which I did. I posted it then with AnPost registered post directly to the client. She was very happy to receive it in a couple of days after that and sent me a lovely email:
Hi Ivana! I received my father’s portrait yesterday thank you. It’s absolutely beautiful. I’m so happy with it as is all my family. I’ll be sure to tag your page on Instagram when we hang it in our home.
Stacey on receiving her Dad’s finished and framed painting
