Press

Interview with Kimberly Schlegel Whitman, Dallas, Texas

What is your favorite part of the process? 

My favorite part of the process is getting to know my clients.  A portrait painting is not simply the likeness of a person, but more importantly it should be a manifestation of their character and spirit.   To capture that requires being able to be in tune with the family and to imbue the artwork with their uniqueness and personality.   Working with clients to achieve this is a fascinating process.  We confer on all the details of the painting from choosing the clothes that they will wear, to the pose and the background considerations; all of these decisions are important in how they influence the outcome of the work.  Clients trust me to be able to capture the people they love.

What is the biggest difference with painting an adult's portrait versus a child's portrait? 

Although children can be shy, they are more often open and trusting and their essence is not hidden.  Adults are more complex characters with many different layers.  The portrait needs to be rich and complex like the person.  Often this is communicated by subtle hints that suggest levels of meaning that are not immediately obvious like the tilt of a head or the gesture of the hand.  The painting takes on an objective reality and also communicates the empathy that the artist feels for the sitter, a quality the viewer understands intuitively.

Best time to do a portrait? 

Deciding to commission a portrait is exciting, whether you want to honor a particular moment in someone's life or simply to celebrate your love for someone, it is a very special thing to do. Any stage of a person's life has the potential to make a good portrait.   Children are always beautiful.   Even in their adolescence, which some people might consider awkward, there is tenderness and a promise of things to come that makes a beautiful painting.  As we mature, our faces record so much that we have seen and felt and experienced and I think it is wonderful to commemorate life at any stage.  As you can see, I find people constantly fascinating.  

Why have a portrait painted in this digital age of photos?

Portraits are works of art and family heirlooms.  They begin to give pleasure immediately, but the gift lasts for generations.  I recently painted a woman who has seven generations of family portraits in her home.  She has a relationship with her ancestors which is quite unique! 

Another mother who had her boys painted when they were 3 and 5 told me how much she loves continuing to see the portrait as the boys finish high school, go to off to college and become men. 

Reactions from former clients

”Well, I am finally over my emotional reaction to seeing Will's portrait. You have done a remarkable job of capturing his essence and channeling it through his eyes and smile into your painting... you have caught a spectrum of emotions in this single expression. I could not be one iota happier.” 

“Honestly, there are no words to describe my endless gratitude to you for creating such a beautiful portrait of my love, Hannah.

You have created a perfect reflection of the most precious gift in my life, my daughter."