JOHN HENRY FOLLEY
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How I decided on the pose for my daughter's portrait painting

2/15/2022

2 Comments

 
Last week I sent an email to my private list of Beauty Advocacy subscribers and Facebook community to ask for input about my daughter's painted portrait. It's always great fun to hear everyone's input! Different aspects of a pose speak to different people. 
Deirdre and I had selected these six images from among hundreds of shots. With a toddler sitting [squirming] for a photo, it takes a lot of tries to get even this many candidates! 
As I explain on my portraiture page, the best portrait will result from a live sitting. Ideally, a portrait subject would come in for a series of sittings, each for a few hours, so that I'd have the chance really to study that person live, with real light shining on his/her face and real color to work with before me in three dimensions. 

​But in the case of a toddler, a photo will do the trick. Toddlers are not the best models, but it is a delight to capture this young phase! 
Poll results
Thanks to my subscribers, I was able to get a sense of what about these photos strikes others. Here is the approximate breakdown of the votes: 

A - 12% of the votes
B - 15% of the votes
C - 15% of the votes
D - 34% of the votes
E - 13% of the votes
F - 9% of the votes 
So our clear leader was D, with C and B tied for second. 
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But I still had to decide.... 
Clearly, there is a lot to love about D. It is very bright and cheerful, capturing a sweet moment from our little girl. It's appealing to capture an unguarded, candid moment. Deirdre and I agree that we would like to have this printed and framed as a photo -- it is, undoubtedly, a charming snap of our girl (and captures a hint of her mischievous nature)! But for an oil portrait, I tend to want a more elevated tone. In my opinion, D will not translate as well to the canvas as some of the other options would.

(Now - mind you - if you were commissioning this portrait of your daughter and that was your favorite, then that's the one that I would paint!)
B just isn't my favorite. While I love the pose with the hands slightly clasped and the 3/4 view of her face still sporting baby cheeks... I'm not loving it. There's a hint of "dazed" in that photo that I ultimately decide against. 

C is a tough one to turn down. I think it is objectively the prettiest one, and I would love to turn it into an oil portrait. But Deirdre is adamant that the painting should capture our little one's bright blue eyes. So this is also a no-go. 
So where does that leave me? 

I was finding that I just kept coming back to E. 
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Both Deirdre and I love this image. We love the pose with the full arm, elbow slightly bent; we love the curls flying somewhat free (her golden hair tends to be tousled); we love the crinkle of the silk dress; we love the fully-lit view of the face. We also love the energy, which is distinctly that of our sweet-yet-wild little one. This image captures our little girl and also has that slightly more formal sense that I'm going for in an heirloom piece. 

The one hesitation: Deirdre was finding that she was wishing for the color scheme from D. That blue background, especially, seems like the right spirit-color for our little girl, as well as a color that we'd like to have hanging on our walls for decor purposes (yes, that is a factor to consider!). The purple wasn't doing it for Deirdre. 
So let me wave my magic wand here... 
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And I think we have our winner. 
We (the parents) are happy, I (the artist) am happy... I think we're good to go. When I translate this to the canvas, I'll plan to smooth out the background (drapery wrinkles not necessary), fill out the hair a little (some was lost to photography and we do enjoy her golden curls), and adjust the ribbon to be smoother and wider. The little clip in her hair will either disappear or get a Cinderella transformation as well. These are the liberties that I get to take to come up with the final product we're looking for! 

Please don't let my special offer on portraits pass you by! We're talking about some big savings here: 
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Just shoot me an email, give me a call, drop me a line through my contact form... let's get this ball rolling! Payment plans welcome. 
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Hesitating because you're not sure about some aspect of the process? That's ok; I'm learning too! Feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer. 

I look forward to sharing with you when this portrait is underway and then complete! (Make sure you're subscribed to my private email list to stay tuned.)
2 Comments

A Celebration of Personality: My Portrait Offer for 2022

1/24/2022

1 Comment

 
Let's talk about how 2022 is the perfect year for you to have your/your loved one's portrait painted. 
(If the above video is not loading, it could be your browser.)
It's a good time for celebrating the human person, particularly as discovered in the face. There's really no good way to abstract the face, because faces are essentially personal. Your face. Your loved one's face. A good portrait should give a sense of the whole person, but of course will focus on that all-important face.

​Our culture has been suffering from a defacing -- literally, a lack of faces. The effect has been chilling. Misunderstanding and fear are two of the major byproducts of this rejection of the essential goodness of the human face. 
But this is not how we were meant to live. We were made to relate to, to connect with, to love one another. So much of this hinges upon our ability to communicate with each other and understand one another, face to face. We're not just statistics, we're people. 

​So, I say, let's get some portraits painted!
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Why have a portrait painted?

Here are a few reasons why you might be looking for a painted portrait: 
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  1. You've been wanting to capture this moment in your/your loved one's life. Some times are better than others for memorializing. If now is the moment (say, Junior is at that sweet phase between toddler and little kid, and will suddenly be grown up tomorrow; or your daughter is graduating high school and about to leave home), then let's seize it in an heirloom piece! 

  2. You have a special occasion to commemorate. Maybe you recently celebrated your 35th anniversary; maybe you are about to retire. I don't know what the particular story in your life is, so tell me! And let's see about getting it on canvas. 

  3. Your institution needs a portrait for culture and posterity. If you have ever visited the halls of an important institution -- e.g., a university, religious house, reputable bank -- you have seen hung on the walls the interesting faces of those who have gone before, those to whom you can look for an example and/or to understand history. What did that make you think about that institution?
    ​Those portraits didn't hop onto those walls themselves... someone had to take the steps to commission them, someone had to pose, someone had to paint. When such portraits are executed beautifully, to honor leaders or recall specific patrons, etc., the institutions are enriched. Their value increases with time. It could be the same for your place of work or worship.


  4. You want to elevate the decor in your home -- and you want to do it in a personal way. Yes, a portrait is about a person, but it can also include design elements (and there's nothing wrong with that). This is a painting that you want to hang in your home because of how much it means to you: because of a certain memory you want to distill, because of how much a certain person means to you, because of what you want to pass on in your family... And I'll be happy to discuss color choices and framing that will meet the style you're going for. 

Why now? 

Here's the fun part. 

I'm offering a 36% discount off of any studio portrait booked by Feb 28. 

Why 36%? Because I just turned 36. (We wanted this announcement to go out on my birthday [Jan 11], but we've honestly just been too busy until now!) 

What does that look like, in terms of savings? See below: 
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Can you tell I'm eager to dive in here? 

The Fine Print

  • What does "booked" mean? What I mean is: if you decide that you would like your portrait painted this year, and you put down your 40% deposit by the end of February, you will receive this discount. 
  • Scheduling is flexible. You don't have to know the exact date(s) your studio portrait will take place in order to commit. All you need to know is that you want to do this. We will have to talk to determine the schedule. We will set dates for your portrait sitting based on mutually agreeable dates and what you're looking for in your portrait. 
  • First-come, first-serve. If you're the first person to commit and book, then you'll be first in line to select the date(s) for your portrait session. We will be figuring out how to make this work comfortably for all involved, and we'll just go one by one to serve anyone who wants to line up a portrait session this year. 
  • This offer applies to painted portraits in oil, not to pencil/charcoal/watercolor portraits. 
  • Artistic freedom. I want to be of service to everyone. However, not every project will be the right fit and not every concept is one that I want to pursue. If you have an idea, let's chat about it and we'll see if it's a fit!  As always with my commissioned work, I reserve the right to decline any painting request that does not align with my artistic vision. 
  • How to start? With an email or a phone call. You don't have all the answers right now; neither do I. But if you're interested, let's get the conversation started and make it happen! 

Click here to see my portrait page for more on pricing and  what the painting process looks like!

Any questions? Feel free to comment below! Peace!
1 Comment

In Memoriam: Tim Cantu

12/6/2021

1 Comment

 
Last month, the community to which Deirdre and I belong felt the painful loss of a young family man, Tim Cantu, to cancer. I knew Tim only a relatively short time but I can say he was truly a friend.
Tim and I shared much in common. We were both about the same age (he was a few years younger). We both were from large families and were the fathers of large families as well. Our reasons for having large families are similar too: they stem from our Catholic faith and the conviction that life is a precious gift and should be shared generously with others. Tim was the dedicated father of 5 children. It was always refreshing to see Tim and Marie with their family in large part because together they were a lot like what my wife and I want to be. 
As an artist, one thing that particularly struck me about Tim was his conviction that artistic forms are both meaningful and important. Some of his many friends may not be aware that he was a patron of the arts, making an actual investment in culture that way -- and he was excited about it. I enjoyed working with Tim as artist/patron, and I sensed that he was going to be with me for the long haul in my own quest for Beauty. We also shared some good thoughts on art and beauty over some good drinks. 
​
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A portrait Tim commissioned me to paint as a gift for his wife on the occasion of their 10th anniversary.
Tim was willing to take an unpopular position in order to be true to what he believed as far as taste and culture. This is something I respect, because it’s all too easy for any of us to go with the flow on what may seem like minor matters -- the choice of music for a party, say -- but the fact remains that forms form us. Tim knew that. Seeking excellence in the little things -- seeking beauty in all our choices -- is a step forward on the journey toward the ultimate Good to which we’re destined. 
Tim’s journey, it seemed last month, was cut cruelly short. Deirdre and I, along with many, many others, were praying for a miracle. We wanted so much for this fun, lively guy to fully recover, to stay by his wife Marie's side and get to watch his children grow up. Learning of his passing was a painful blow. But we trust that God has a plan that will redeem all the suffering. As I think of and am grateful for Tim’s support of my artwork and, more importantly, his friendship, I’m reminded of the deep value of choosing the more beautiful way, in matters both great and small. ​
1 Comment

Auction for Mandarin Pears

11/4/2021

4 Comments

 
Bidding is open!
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The rules are as follows: 
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The original price of this piece is $5260. Starting bid for the auction is $1200. 
  • Shipping is free in the the contiguous US!
  • There will be a fresh blog post for the actual auction, entitled 'Auction for Mandarin Pears.'
  • To place a bid on the painting, use the comments section below the auction post. 
  • Feel free to use a pseudonym, but please be aware that winners will be informed via email, so it is imperative that you provide your working email when placing a comment bid. Your email will be kept private and will not be published along with the comment.  
  • Minimum bid increase amount is $25. This means that you must bid at least $25 higher than the previously published comment. For example, if the comment above yours is $825, your minimum bid is $850. You may bid higher in increments of $25 (e.g., you may follow a $825 bid with a $900 bid). 
  • The auction will run about two and a half days, ending at 11am, EST, on Saturday the 6th, 2021. 
  • The final bid to post in the comment section with a timestamp prior to 11:00am on the 6th will be the winning post. In the case of any confusion, we will refer to the corresponding emails that we receive for each comment; whichever email appears in our inbox as the final post before 11am will correspond to the winning comment bid. 
  • We will contact the winner via email to arrange payment and shipment. 
  • Massachusetts residents will be subject to MA sales tax (6.25%). 
4 Comments
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    Author

    Hello there, I'm John H. Folley, an oil painter in the Boston School tradition. Thanks for visiting the Beauty Advocacy Blog, where it's my job to help you become a more discerning art appreciator.

    I believe that beauty is real and that art has standards, and I'm here to push back against the pretensions of the modern Art world.

    Here you'll find updates on my studio projects, commissioned paintings, illustration, and some of my art philosophy. You'll also hear occasionally from my wife and studio manager, artist Deirdre M. Folley. Peace!

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