Marvin Mattelson lays down his palette and uses his words

A Portrait Artist's Biggest Challenge

June 26, 2012
Posthumous Portrait of Shelly Kaye by Marvin Mattelson

Creating a Posthumous Portrait Painting

This past Saturday I delivered the above posthumous portrait, Shelly, to Al, her widower. When he saw the finished portrait he became very emotional and started to tear up. It was as if  he was peering into the eyes of his beloved wife one more time. It was a very touching and rewarding moment for me. I thought outside of a sadist or a bully who would derive pleasure from making someone cry? The obvious answer: a portrait artist.

When a client reacts emotionally, it means I’ve managed to touch their heart, and from this I derive great satisfaction. In the case of a posthumous portrait it’s more meaningful still. I always feel guilty about this kind of commission, that somehow I am profiting from someone elses’ great loss. So it’s always my intention that my portrait painting will serve as a conduit for closure and solace for those who were close to the deceased. This puts a positive spin on it for me.

Al shared, as we talked over lunch, “It’s a day by day thing, but there are times when the reality just hits me.” Hopefully this portrait can serve to comfort him and soften the sting.

A posthumous portrait is a very challenging endeavor because, in most instances, having never met the subject you are at the mercy of existing photos. It’s a big compromise, for me, because I feel that my control of the lighting is so instrumental. Then there is the potential for disappointment, on the part of the client, because the way he sees his loved one, in his mind’s eye, may differ wildly from the photo. Lastly, the chosen photo may have the subject smiling, and that can present its own can of worms. (The worst being the scorn of purists who automatically reject the smile as being aesthetically impure.)

I believe the phrase painting someone in their best light sums up my strategic philosophy when I’m commissioned to paint a posthumous portrait. I think serving the clients needs, at this sensitive time, makes the most sense. Portraits are a collaborative effort between artist and client. I find that by listening to the loved ones to talk about their relationship and their remembrances of the subject gives me great insight into their persona.

It’s my feeling that where a painting really trumps a photo is because an artist can introduce something beyond the mere image. I call it tiny time pills of emotional content. Your feelings are woven into the fabric of the painting and if you can channel what you’ve experienced through your connection to the family, something more powerful, than the image itself, can prevail.

Since you are using existing reference, there is potential for problems, particularly if you need to place the deceased into a group setting or into an environment where the lighting differs from the photos of the subject. The best solution may necessitate your sculpting a likeness, matching the lighting, and photographing the sculpture to get the proper information, so that everything matches perfectly. Very few are willing to go that extra mile. In the case of Shelly I needed to extract her from a very busy background, use an out-of-focus photo for the most flattering view, and take detail from another shot.

Maybe that’s why, when I receive an emotional response, it’s a bit more satisfying than a standard commission. As we parted, we hugged and Al expressed how happy he was that I was the artist he chose to paint his wife’s portrait. It’s nice to know I can make my living by creating something that has true meaning for someone else.

Marvin Mattelson is now conducting his classes and workshops online in Full HD 1080p through his Fine Art Portrait Academy. For further information, or to register for an upcoming offering, please follow this link to his teaching page.

Until next time…

Previous Wordpress blog Comments

Jeanine Jackson says

June 26, 2012

Beautiful, Marvin.
The first thing that struck me was how happy she looks. The next was how masterfully painted this is with many unconventional details such as the inclusion if glasse, open smile and well-earned laugh lines that echo the abundant curls in her long hair.
Then, I read your text and was so moved by the love this man has

Marvin Mattelson says

June 26, 2012

Thanks Jeanine. He is a very special person.

Joe MATTUS says

June 26, 2012

Inspiring Marvin!

Marvin Mattelson says

June 26, 2012

Thanks Joe!

Pat Joyce-Deegan

June 26, 2012

Hey Marvin,
This is beautiful and I loved reading the story behind the painting.

“if you can channel what you’ve experienced through your connection to the family, something more powerful, than the image itself, can prevail”-Marvin

I embrace posthumous commissions. Through my own experience (I have done at least five such portraits) it seems the portrait gives the grieving family member/friend a sense that they are in the presence of their loved one once more.
The commission that comes to mind is a portrait I completed of a bride’s mom who had passed away five years earlier. In fact, her step-mom commissioned me, (quite an act of love!). When the bride saw the portrait for the first time she literally held it to her chest, slid down the wall, plopped on the floor and, through tears, thanked her step-mom and said, “you brought Mom back for my wedding”!
With every portrait I contemplate the person I am drawing/painting and in this way I feel I am infusing what I have learned about their personality into the art. With a posthumous portrait I really study the photo and pray about that person throughout the painting/drawing. So, in some sense I am not just trying to get a likeness from a (usually sub-standard) photo but I am attempting to instill my own human sympathy….I like to believe it comes through my work.
You have that same gift Marvin. Aren’t we the lucky ones who can give such a unique expression of sympathy and love to those who mourn painful loss?
It’s a beautiful painting Marvin…you are quite special! Thanks for sharing your story. Very moving.

Marvin Mattelson

June 26, 2012

Thanks for sharing that Patty. You’re pretty special too.

Brian Harrold says

June 26, 2012

Hey Marvin,
Looks great, really enjoy your blog. I like the photo of the painting class a few weeks ago. Really shows off our best sides.

Marvin Mattelson says

June 26, 2012

No ifs, ands or butts!

Connie Clutter says

June 27, 2012

There is a wonderful feeling about this painting. I love the smile.

Marvin Mattelson says

June 27, 2012

Thank you so much.

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