Ford Motor Company CEO
 

This gentleman was a CEO of Ford (now retired). The portrait will hang at his alma mater.

Another beautifully done portrait, Michele! Could we have close-ups of his hands, they look so expressive.

Jean

Michelle,

This is too much...any CEO couldn

Nice work, Michele!

Michele, this is fabulous! The blue of his suit adds JUST the right cool tone to balance all the warmth. His face is so lifelike! He looks as if he is about to start moving. And I simply love all those old volumes. and the lighted objects on the shelf. Can you tell us about them, and what significance they have for him?

This is a terrific CEO portrait, and I bet now all the other high-ups at Ford are going to be calling you. :thumbsup:

Awesome portrait, Michele. Congrats on your successes - you're getting some really illustrious clients!

Thanks!

I'll have to take some hand closeup photos -- I don't have any just yet, though I still have the painting so it's not too late.

He's actually wearing a black suit but I think it looks blue onscreen. Usually I will warm up a black suit with ochres or umbers so it doesn't read as "blue" too much, but with a very warm background like this I really needed the cools.

This gentleman, Donald E. Petersen, is a bit of a renaissance man, a very well regarded CEO who did great things for Ford during his tenure. His accomplishments are used as a positive case study at the Harvard Business School.

He reads a lot of history and also has a top quality gem and mineral collection -- it will end up at the Smithsonian eventually. The bowl is carved from stone, perhaps alabaster, and the green gem is a high quality specimen that I unfortunately don't know the name of. There are one or two brass instruments on the shelves that have something to do with minerals, though I don't know their function.

The sitting was done in his den at his home in Detroit. As soon as I saw this setting I knew that was where I wanted him to pose.

I'll also be doing a double portrait of him and his wife for their livingroom, and perhaps another portrait later on of their son.

He's a wonderful guy to work with -- I'll bet the folks at Ford wish he never left!

Oh, this is fabulous Michele! One senses the warmth and brilliance of this man. Congratulations, you are amazing!

Garth

Another lovely, sorry fabulous portrait from you, Michele.

You know I love your work and I never get tired of staring at it.

Could you share some close ups of his hands?

Michele, this is Awesome!! Good for you.

Here are the hand closeups.

Beautiful work, Michele.
Nice composition. This green gem is very fascinating (and very complementary to these warm colors). Its like a second focus point after the head...
Congratulations.

Wow Michele -- this is just gorgeous! Thanks for posting the closeups.

Michele,

I am so thrilled for your many successes! Brava!

Wow, Michele! I really admire how you continue to portray such character within the formal confines of an executive portrait. I especially like the compositional choices you've made here; the spots of glowing warmth around the man lead up to face are so nicely done. No wonder you are doing so well in this category. I am going to study your work very carefully the next time I need to paint a suit.

Big congratulations to you on this one and all the future commissions!

Great hands, Michele!

Beautiful work, Michelle! I am not sure what to say about what I like most - the skintones, the man's expression, the choice of background color, the hands- they're all great!

Dear Michelle,

Another beautifully handled portrait. Congratulations! You have a great nack to capture the friendly side of your corporate/political figures, rather than the stern look that we all have accustomed to seeing in the representation of people of high rank.

Funny you should say that, Enzie. The one on my easel right now has a very serious look!