Where Time Stands Still: Creating Children’s Hand-Painted Oil Portraits
There is a moment in every session when a child stops noticing everything else around them and looks right into my lens. Their sweet face softens, they open up, and suddenly it is as if I can see the whole world through their eyes. Capturing that moment always brings me so much joy, and carries a special significance when it is the beginning of an oil portrait together.
When I think about oil portraits, I am immediately drawn to the way photography and painting come together to create something truly timeless. These unique works of art are a marriage of the realism of a photograph with the hand-painted artistry of an oil painting, finished with a texture that gives each piece a lovely, dimensional quality.
Childhood is such a precious season of life, that we often feel the desire to have time stand still. The children in these pieces look as if time has simply paused for just one sweet moment. You cannot quite tell whether the portrait was made fifty years ago or just recently. There is so much space in these portraits for stories, for the growth and youthfulness of each child, and for that innocence that is so fleeting and so captivating.
Oil portraits have the richness of a family heirloom, as they are being handed down through generations. An oil portrait carries so much more significance than a framed image on your desk. It is truly a gift that lives on, one that will have a special place in your home and be seen by your children's children.
“Working with Renée was seamless from start to finish. I felt involved in the creative process, and it showed in the final product: the oil portraits were beyond perfect. She captured my boys so beautifully, not only in their likeness but in the little details and expressions. The finished portraits exceeded every expectation I had and are pieces I know our family will treasure for a lifetime. I truly could not love them more.”
- Stephanie Parkes
More than just the artistry, perhaps the most fulfilling aspect of creating oil portraits is collaborating with our dear clients. Every portrait starts with a consultation where I learn more about your child’s personality, who they are, and how you envision their portrait reflecting your family life and home. Essential to the individual nature of these artworks, we love to weave little tidbits of everyday life into the image, from heirloom clothing to the smallest details of your child you wish to capture.
Creating a vision for their portrait is something we dream up together, and selecting a significant location is an important part of the story-telling. While some families want to be photographed at home, others choose a favorite park or a place that holds a special meaning. Imagine, for example, how incredible it would be to return to the very location where a grandparent once had their own portrait made. Tying all of those threads together is what makes this process so special to me.
After our photography session, we meet again in our studio to preview a curated gallery and select your final image together. From there, every detail of the art process is carefully designed. Your image is printed on canvas, hand-painted with contoured brush strokes and oil accents, and custom framed. Our conversations continue the whole way through, and once your portrait is complete, we provide a professional installation in your home so you can enjoy it from the very first day.
For all of the planning that goes into these pieces, the heart of this work is connection. I love getting to know your children and —who they truly are…the silly ones, the shy ones, the thoughtful ones. When they relax, look right at me, and let me in, something beautiful happens. These are the moments I carry into each portrait.
Thank you for trusting me with your children and with a work of art that will live in your home for years to come. It is truly one of the greatest gifts of my profession.
