By Kate Bradley 23 October 2013, 10:21AM
Last Thursday my clients Katherine and Stephen hosted a party at their house to unveil the portraits of their twin sons for the first time. Unveiling parties are the best part of the commission experience. It's just a time to gather and celebrate with family and friends. As Stephen said, it's a personal experience you don't get everyday.
The atmosphere was warm, fun and relaxed. No shoes, no problem. There was wine and cheese for the adults, but the biggest hit (for me at least) were the Chik-fil-a chicken nuggets.
After we mingled, I revealed some of the secrets of my creative process. I showed guests the proposals I created and how each one focused on portraying the individuality of the child. Then the kids busted into the room to get more sacks.
One of the guests asked me if I paint pets, too. While I love our furry friends, I don't paint them as the subjects of portraits, only as part of the surroundings.
I met the boys’ god parents, who were each partial to their godson’s portrait. Go figure.
Afterwards, Stephen told me that this was a completely new experience for him. Unlike his wife, he doesn’t come from a portrait background. He said he will enjoy having the portraits as he watches his boys grow up.
It's a privilage for me to get to do the work that I do. I love being able to give people something so special that they will treasure for the rest of their lives. Or, as Katherine's mom said, the portrait is what she's grabbing if the house is on fire.
Yes!
