[Chris Saper]

As commonly painted as the long white dress is, it's still a classic look. In the past eleven years I have only met one little girl who really had a long white dress! (And I don't have any loaners!)

The vast majority of my clients prefer their children in play clothes. Perhaps it's part of the casual lifestyle out here in the west, or perhaps it's because I so often show work that is informal. When I help clients select clothing, I am primarily interested in color, neckline shape and type of fabric (material that moves with the underlying form, rather than fabric that is stiff or starchy or bulky). In any case, color seems to be a way of life (painting life, too).

I think that the selection, for example, of a jewel-toned dress, or party outfit is more a matter of preference than taste. Hats are great fun for young and old.

p.s. One of the most fun portraits I have done was a threesome of kids between 2-10 years of age, who loved to dress up. In costumes. Their mom dragged the huge chest of costumes into the yard, turned it out on the grass, and said "OK! Everyone get dressed up now!" We ended up with a pirate in a red waistcoat, Pocahantas, and a little 2-year old towhead in her Hawaiian outfit, complete with coconut-shell bra. Even though I had scads of really great, traditional photos, the parents absolutely wanted this remembrance of their children at this age. Most clients would not be comfortable moving this far afield of convention, but I can certainly attest to how much fun I had painting this piece.

p. p. s. That is not to say I wouldn't thoroughly love to paint more white dresses! Maybe I should go hunting in the resale shops.