Like Father, Like Son is a very precious pencil portrait which I was commissioned to draw.
I would like to share with you the words of the little boy in the portrait, Simon, who is now a man with grown up sons of his own.
‘This was the most moving and emotional gift I have ever received. I lost my Dad at the age of 10.
So my Amazing Wife presented me with the portrait in front of my Boys, all of them knowing what the gift was, waiting for my reaction……
I opened the gift with the back of the picture facing me, as I spun it around to face me I felt the emotion well up inside. I was in floods of tears at the beauty of the portrait that brought my dad back to life. I had no words.
Thank-you for the Beautiful detail and effort that has captured a treasured memory so well.’
Capturing memories through art
This has been such a beautiful portrait to create. Knowing a little of their story, I could feel the responsibility of doing justice to Simon and his dad whist I worked. It is the look on the father’s face that enthralls me. The adoration and the joy radiating from his smile, a magical moment brought into the present day and captured forever on the page.
Mid-tone pencil drawing
Like Father, Like Son was drawn with a 4B graphite pencil and a white Prismacolor coloured pencil, on toned pastel paper. This sepia-like mid-tone style is particularly effective in creating this nostalgic study of the love between a father and his son.
This drawing is A4 size (21 x 30cm). I would usually choose to draw at most two people, head and shouders portraits, at this scale. So to draw both figures plus the scene was a bit daunting. But that is how we learn – by trying, testing where our boundaries are and seeing if we can move them a bit.
I am so grateful to have been asked to draw this portrait. It is an intimate process, studying someone’s image and discovering what it is that makes them them. And when there is an extra dimension to the work through a story like Simon and his father’s, it brings an extra gravity and importance. These connections with the client, the subjects, and myself as an artist are one of my favourite parts of my job.
Old photographs for a modern portrait
One of the beauties of drawing portraits from photographs is the ability to create new from the old. I have often been asked if I am able to use an old image to reference, and wherever possible I will say yes. Those of us who were around in the pre-digital era will appreciate that photos could be limited in both number and in quality.
As an artist I can create a timeless and realistic portrait of your loved one which celebrates them as they deserve.
Each of these portraits were drawn from old, out of focus or visually cluttered photographs. Joan and Tina, Galdie, Vivian, Murad and Sharon.
Portrait commissions are always welcomed from both UK based and international clients. On my Commissions page there is an overview of the process, and for a more in depth look at commissioning a fine art portrait, please read this guide.
For any questions you may have, or advice you may need, you can contact me here or call or WhatsApp on 07967 416072
