Lake Portrait

[Alexandra Tyng]

Leslie,

You handled this complex portrait very well. I like how you managed to deal with the figures. The lake isn't just a backdrop: you've integrated background and foreground by including the outdoor equipment, which also gives additional information about the couple. I like the way you have thought this through.

[Leslie Ficcaglia]

It's very nice to hear that from you, Alexandra! It's interesting the way people sometimes want to include objects that are symbolic of their interests. Those objects can be easy to integrate or more difficult. I had a pathologist who wanted an old-fashioned globe, an ancient microscope, an electron microscope AND a model of DNA in his portrait. It definitely makes it a challenge at times.

I'm beginning another painting with the same lake setting, this time of my son and daughter-in-law. I had promised them a portrait as a wedding present and it's only two years late. But they just wanted themselves with the lake as a backdrop - no props. The difference between the two couples both in the length of marriage and the relationship is obvious in the poses and details; that's part of what makes this business so fascinating.

Leslie