The Beauty of the Human Face: A Captivating Tapestry of Expression

The human face is a remarkable canvas that showcases the intricacies of emotion, identity, and individuality. Its beauty lies not only in its physical features but also in the wealth of expression it can convey. From the sparkling eyes that shimmer with joy to the gentle curve of a smile that radiates warmth, the human face is a tapestry of emotions and stories waiting to be explored.

Each face carries a unique story, reflecting a person's journey, experiences, and personality. It is a window into their soul, revealing their hopes, dreams, and vulnerabilities. The face holds the power to captivate us, drawing us in with its raw authenticity and connecting us on a deeply human level.

The beauty of the human face lies not in its adherence to conventional standards but in its diversity. Every face, regardless of age, gender, or cultural background, possesses its own allure and charm. It is through this diversity that we celebrate the richness of human existence.

Faces are also symbolic of our interconnectedness as a species. They are a universal language, transcending barriers and fostering empathy and understanding. In their subtleties and nuances, faces create a tapestry of emotions that bind us together in our shared human experience.

As we navigate life, we should embrace the beauty of the human face. Let us appreciate the lines etched by laughter, the wisdom carved by time, and the uniqueness that sets each face apart. By cherishing the beauty of the human face, we honor the stories it tells and the connections it fosters, ultimately celebrating the incredible diversity and wonder of humanity.

Memorial Portrait

16 x 20 Oil on Canvas Portrait

I'm thrilled to have completed this portrait commission, especially because it was created in memory of a dearly loved family member. It's always an honor to be chosen to create such a special gift for someone. Sometimes painting someone's portrait goes beyond just seeing the face, it's about capturing the essence of that person. In this case, the subject loved fun, bling, and brilliant colors. So the client and I decided early on to add the gold and make the flowers a bit fun and quirky, to kind-of go along with this sweet lady's style.

A gift from the heart

I was contacted about creating a very special Christmas gift from Angela to her boyfriend. This famous New Orleans store is on Canal Street, Rubensteins. Canal street has been a hub for shops and markets for over a hundred years. Angel’s boyfriend buys his suits there, as his father did and his grandfather. It’s now a family tradition.

This was a very customized painting, adding in his porsche, a street car & many Christmas decorations.

Progression shown of custom oil painting.

La Department of Military

Oil on a linen canvas
James H Mays
Command Sergeant Major
Louisiana Army National Gaurd
Size 24" x 30"

It can be challenging to show the work in progress. Over two months of work has been condensed into about 2 minutes.  
 

Oil painted portrait for the Louisiana Department of Military

The Story behind the Arceneaux Portrait

Mr Arceneaux contacted me about createing a portrait for his wife (a surprise Christmas present).

He sent family pictures for me to work from, however I needed to add another person, his father-in-law.  His wife lost her father last year, his passing broke her heart.  A photo of him dancing with her at their wedding would suffice for this project. 

Their little boy needed some adjusting...

 liked his face here:

& his pose here:

For her dad, I would have to find someone to pose for some photos so I could create a new body of him for the portrait.  My husband was the model.  (He's a model husband.)

A rough draft was sent for approval & critiquing:

Two different photos were used to create the background.  Well, that's the beginning of the story.  The end of the story has not arrived as of yet.

PS. The drawing & underpainting was completed by Christmas, to give as a gift.

The first photo really did show enough of the Mom's likeness because her head was tilted downward...another photo was used to replace her head.

Here's a short video showing the whole progression of the painting:

Creating a custom piece

When someone request a custom piece of artwork, they usually already have an idea in their mind. The artist job is to bring that vision into reality.

For this painting, the art patron, Bonnie, wanted an eagle soaring.  I had her send me a picture of the wall she was needing the the artwork to hang on.  

The first part of the process was for me to send Bonnie some conceptual designs for her to get an idea of what was in my head.

Conceptual designs of painting:

View fullsize

We had to determine the exact size the painting needed to be. Painters tape was placed in the area, then measurements were taken.

It was decided to go with the center image.  She requested some "semi-abstract" (I think that's pretty funny).  The eagle was more realistic while the background had texture, gold leaf and some abstract components.

A large wooden panel as constructed for the artwork.

Images of the process:

drawing

underpainting

tape and texture

begin detailed work on the eagle

Painting the sky.

Detailed image of the sky:

Here is a photo of the finished painting, hung in here home: