Louis I Kahn

[Marina Dieul]

Fascinating triangles !
Congratulations, this is beautiful!

[Alexandra Tyng]

Thanks, Marina! Yes, there were a lot of triangles. I especially like the interplay between the ones made by his white shirt and the triangles in the upper windows on the left-hand side of the painting. It was fun playing with them.

[Enzie Shahmiri]

Alexandra,

What a wonderful experience to be able to celebrate your father's life, both privately through painting him and on such an international scale. The painting is beautiful!

I literally felt as though I were bringing him to life, but in the role of creator

I found this remark rather interesting. Last year my father in law passed away and I did a portrait of him for my husband, while he went back home to be with his mom. Doing this posthumous painting was the most difficult thing I have ever done. I cried just about every 5 minutes into working on the painting. I felt like the more form he developed the more he seemed to come alive, which made it more difficult for me to deal with his loss. I applaud your courage and determination to get your dad's painting done in such a short time and with such great success.

[Alexandra Tyng]

Originally Posted by Enzie Shahmiri

I felt like the more form he developed the more he seemed to come alive, which made it more difficult for me to deal with his loss.

You expressed it so well, Enzie--that's exactly how I felt.

[Marcus Lim]

Seeing this thread's contributions, the emotions that run through it especially from Enzie, got me thinking about my own portrait projects.
I don't know how many people think of us as "Legacy Whisperers" (permit me to coin the phrase from the TV show Ghost Whisperers")
I mean, people may take it for granted that portrait work for the living, is about its beauty and its uniqueness.

But it's the posthumous ones that remind us, each portrait carries an undying charisma and emotion that can help portrait commissioners, to deliver their message to their future generations, be it from their own family or from the community.

I believe we should be deeply proud that we're born to have this gift to do this for others.

[Garth Herrick]

Originally Posted by Marcus Lim

Seeing this thread's contributions, the emotions that run through it especially from Enzie, got me thinking about my own portrait projects.
I don't know how many people think of us as "Legacy Whisperers" (permit me to coin the phrase from the TV show Ghost Whisperers")
I mean, people may take it for granted that portrait work for the living, is about its beauty and its uniqueness.

But it's the posthumous ones that remind us, each portrait carries an undying charisma and emotion that can help portrait commissioners, to deliver their message to their future generations, be it from their own family or from the community.

I believe we should be deeply proud that we're born to have this gift to do this for others.

A great quote is born. ^^^^^^

Thanks Marcus! I should print and frame that.

Garth

[Marcus Lim]

hmm...maybe i should get Hallmark cards to print it for "Inspiring Sad Portrait Artists" series of cards...LOL!

[Alexandra Tyng]

Thanks, Marcus, that's really thought-provoking. Something for the would-be "commissioners" to contemplate. I think the intent is really the same, whether the person we are painting is alive or dead. We try to capture the movement and the expression and the spark of animation on the canvas so the portrait will carry on to give future generations a glimpse of the whole aura and feeling of this particular individual. It's a lot of extra work to create a posthumous portrait, and the references are usually bad and frustrating, but if we can pull it off, then it has this quality. I was SO nervous about people's reaction when it was unveiled. My own brother hadn't ever seen it, because he was away while I was painting it (actully I could have used him as a model). After it was unveiled, an architect came up to me and said that my father spoke to him as he was standing in front of it! I thought,
"Well, at least it spoke to one person. That's encouraging." You might say I was cautiously positive.

[Mischa Milosevic]

Alex what can I say except a job well done. Still, I'm sure it was not "just" a commission. We see our parents as eternal and true enough they are always with us. When they pass and sleep, until that day of resurrection, we see them in our character, our brothers character our sisters character. Sometimes in a building or two. A glimpse a moment that reminds us of that special or sometimes not so special moment. We see them in our mind's eye for he/she made a impression on us.

I hope that this painting of your late father brought fond memories. Keep on painting Alex for each one of us, I am sure, appreciates who you are and who you are is a part of your father. Thank you for sharing him with us.

All the best to you

[Lacey Lewis]

Wow, wow, and wow! That's all I can really say!