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Vicars Lynn McKinney

Portrait Artist

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Official Portrait of the Honorable Albert A. Corbett, Jr.

October 22, 2019

Official Portrait of the Honorable Albert A. Corbett, Jr.

I had the pleasure of painting the official portrait of the Honorable Albert A. Corbett, Jr. , Chief District Court Judge, Retired.  The portrait was unveiled in the Johnston County Court House of North Carolina on September 19, 2019.  Judge Corbett’s portrait hangs in the Historic Superior Courtroom.

                                                Judge Corbett and Vicky at the unveiling

 

 

                   The Honorable Albert A. Corbett, Jr., Chief District Court Judge, Retired

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Painting Elizabeth

May 28, 2018

Painting Elizabeth

Elizabeth – Oil on Canvas 16″ x 20″

 

While working from life, I encourage good conversation and laughter.  It’s a great time to “break the ice”, and become better acquainted.  Children are no exception!  My goal is always to provide a good experience throughout the commission process.  Drawing the subject multiple times, which occurs during the preliminary phase of my work, is a key element in achieving a good likeness in the oil portrait. 

                                 

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Recently completed oil portrait of Frank

May 20, 2018

Recently completed oil portrait of Frank

There are lots of reasons why I love painting portraits – one being the joy in meeting and working with great people, such as Frank and his family

Frank – oil on canvas

Frank viewing the final portrait with Vicky

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The Official Portrait of The Honorable Jane Marum Roush

February 6, 2017

The Official Portrait of The Honorable Jane Marum Roush

Vicky is unveiling the portrait along with the VBA president, Jim Guy.

I can’t believe the unveiling of my third portrait for the Supreme Court of Virginia, has come and gone already! These gatherings are always a festive time of celebration and this year was no different. In keeping with its tradition, The Virginia Bar Association (VBA) held its 127th Annual Meeting at the lovely Williamsburg Lodge and Conference Center, and what a special evening January 20, 2017 was for Justice Jane Marum Roush, (and me!) Every Supreme Court Justice, both active and retired, were there in honor of Justice Roush and to celebrate the unveiling of her portrait.

The Official Portrait of The Honorable Jane Marum Roush. The portrait will hang in the main courtroom of the Virginia Supreme Court.

 

Applying some finishing touches to the portrait while Justice Roush was visiting my studio in August.

Vicky and the Honorable Jane Marum Roush with the portrait.

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Justice Jane Marum Roush Official Portrait

August 28, 2016

Justice Jane Marum Roush Official Portrait
Justice Roush at her final sitting – I can’t show you the portrait until the official unveiling!

Justice Roush at her final sitting – I can’t show you the portrait until the official unveiling!

We enjoyed a great weekend with Justice Jane Marum Roush, who came to my Raleigh studio for the final sitting for her portrait.  The painting will hang at the Virginia Supreme Court in Richmond.  The unveiling will be on January 20, 2017, so please come back to my website following the event to see the portrait and other photos taken at the unveiling.  Justice Roush and her family are very happy with the portrait.  She is a gracious and lovely person.

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Anatomy of an Oil Portrait

January 20, 2015

Anatomy of an Oil Portrait

Donahue_reduced_smallEach commission I accept begins as a collaborative experience.  My most recently completed commission has been one of the most memorable.  It is an oil portrait of three beautiful young children, two brothers and a sister, ages 10, 7 and 5, who were as invested in the entire process as were the parents.  It was never a challenge to engage any of the children when I was at work with them.  They were very attentive and in tune.

During our discussion of the importance of preliminary studies, I was asked by the parents if I could work from life with the children.  Since the portrait itself was to depict all three of them together on canvas, I thought it prudent to honor their request in the preliminary phase of the process by arranging individual sittings, drawing each child one at a time.  This proved to be extremely beneficial to me in seeing their unique personalities.

oil portrait paintingI began with the eldest of the three.  Each sitting was for two hours, with numerous breaks and lots of conversation.  My goal was not only to begin a good, accurate drawing of him, but to make him feel comfortable in my presence.  Being the first born, he is very conscientious and respectful.  Having to be a model for an artist is not an easy job; however, he approached his task with seriousness and dedication.  He helped make my job easier.  Although we ended each sitting with a few reference photos, the primary part of his drawing was done during those sittings.

Oil portrait paintingNext, I turned to the middle child.  Since he is younger, I felt that I would need to be more mindful of break times than with the first.  To my surprise, he seemed to enjoy “posing” and the discipline of having to find something to focus on to help him hold his gaze.  He even volunteered to be time keeper during his sittings.  At times during his pose, I would see his arm slowly rise to the side, and there was his little sister, who had quietly tiptoed into the room to slip him a little treat.  He especially seemed to enjoy everything required to complete each sitting, and looked forward to the next time.  As with the first child, he was very cooperative, helping to bring me to the completion of an accurate pencil rendering.

oil portrait paintingIt now was time to begin work with the daughter, the youngest of two older brothers.  I kept the same time schedule of two-hour sittings, but was certain that things would work a little differently during my time with her.  She was excited about it being her turn and looked beautiful in her pink dress with a flower on the shoulder, which was to be an important element in her portrait.  Her focus had more brevity than with the boys, and it was clearly necessary that she have something to do while she sat, such as drawing.  Since my work consists primarily of painting children’s portraits, remaining flexible and patient are paramount in keeping the children comfortable.  I had no problem accomplishing this with this little girl.  I simply asked her if she would look up when I asked, and she agreed.  It’s amazing how much information I could take in during the fleeting minute I had each time she would look up. 

pencil study before oil portrait painting

I noticed right away that she would purse her mouth into a “pouty” look of confidence and determination, which proved to be helpful in capturing this specific trait of her personality, a strength that will take her far throughout her life.  By the end of our sittings, she had drawn my portrait while I was completing hers.  Working from life helped me, as in my work with her brothers, complete an accurate pencil rendering of the youngest child.

My next move in the commission was to create a small color study … an aid in the plan of value and color for the final portrait.   The next step was to stretch the canvas for the oil portrait, followed by a painted wash of background color to cover the white on the canvas.  In this particular setting, I chose to mix an outdoor green color for the background, since the children were to be depicted in the family garden.

oil portrait paintingBefore I knew it, I was standing before my easel, facing this newly stretched blank canvas that was ready to receive all the rich information I had acquired.   In my early years of painting, I would draw the image on the canvas before beginning to paint.  I find now that simply marking the placement of the subject(s) and then letting the brush develop the form allows my creativity to flow more freely.  As the children began to take form on the canvas, I was able to transfer the fruits of my experience with each of them, free flowing through the brush in hand, translating their unique personalities into color and form.  When their presence started to emerge, I knew I was on the right track in capturing the essence of each individual character.

oil portrait painting

Vicky displaying the preliminary oil study (left) and the final portrait in progress (right)

I can’t think of anything more exciting while working on a portrait, than to step away from the painting, as I do, to take that necessary overall view, and to discover that the portrait has taken a life of its own.  From here, the painting lets me know when it is complete.   Somewhere during this stage, I always offer a preview of the painting.  I provide this for my own benefit, as well as for my client.  Often I am asked to assist in selecting a frame and make plans to deliver to the frame gallery, instead of its designated home.  The preview enables me to see it in its selected environment prior to the framing.

Vicars Lynn McKinney Portrait ArtistWhen the framed portrait was home and on the wall, we celebrated its completion and our journey together.  I am left with many fond memories of time spent with this family and our trek together in the making of a portrait.

For information about commissioning an oil portrait,  visit my Commission a Portrait page.

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