Process of a Double Portrait

Lately, I’ve been doing commissions with symbolism that had to be hinted at, but not in a heavy way. I’ve been working on this double portrait for a couple celebrating their ten year anniversary — and it was a surprise for the husband! It’s so difficult trying to guess about a person through secretly snapped photos, but thankfully, the likeness turned out very well.

This couple also had something terrible happen that they have overcome together. I found a few ways commemorate that without it being too “Captain Bringdown” or anything like that. We agreed it was supposed to be more on the lighter side, but with that hint of subversive whatnot that I tend to paint in my personal work as it is. This was a really special piece for me and I’m happy with the result.

I don’t normally like showing too much process with my work, but I decided to do photos from start to finish this time around. I never know if people see the stuff I do, or things that needed fixing. I must have gone over that background in various shades of grey and green for a week before I stopped messing around with it!

What you don’t see, is “Judge Judy” on in the background, and me yelling “STOP THAT” at my cats every 30 seconds. Working from home hasn’t been totally easy.

This was oil on linen.