Steve & Randy. 2010 by Stephen B Whatley
Painting smiles of friendship........... a recent double portrait commissioned from photographs of two collectors of the Expressionist Fine Art of artist Stephen B Whatley. American businessman Stephen D Weiss (left) commissioned this painting as a surprise for his partner British-born Randall R Rutledge; for their home in Hong Kong. In 2008 the lifelong friends and collectors of Royal memorabilia had commissioned from the artist iconic portraits of the Princes William & Harry (again paintings inspired by photographs) - which were subsequently published in HELLO! magazine (October 2008) and Majesty Magazine (January 2009).
Stephen B Whatley had previously met Randall - during presentation of the Princes' portraits; but had only spoken to Stephen via telephone. The artist works so passionately and intuitively from a selection of photographs that he groups as a montage; before capturing the essence of personality and spirit as he casts his eye around the images during creation; feeling his way with heart and soul.
Steve Weiss was sent a jpeg photograph of the painting on completion, before the original was shipped and wrote immediately by email: " Stephen the picture is great, really great. I really think you captured us well, it is very very sweet...it is fabulous...I am anxious to show it to Randy. I really had to stop myself from showing him the picture!!"
Steve began sharing the photograph with friends and family and wrote again to share the eloquent thoughts of art admirer Graham Kern (& a close friend of both subjects of the painting) saying in his email"...please see his reaction below- I think it is very complimentary and eloquent. It IS such a living painting!!"
Graham wrote to his friend
"...my instant reaction, today, is (as The Beach Boys might say) a number of "good vibrations, many over-lapping. Below are a few of my attempts to crystallise my reactions, namely:
- Immediately, the double-portrait oozes with genuine affability due to the recognizable likeness of you from your smiling expressions: its delightful.
- Also, somehow- yet deftly- on each face Stephen has fused a number of sensitively distilled facial aspects which I also, immediately, know as you two.
- I am aware that Stephen has worked and edited some aspects of your 'appearances' from a selection of photographs....although photographs mostly 'freeze' aspects of our subtley, ever-moving faces, Stephen's evolving signature -style is one of vivacious paint -marks, being both gestural and spontaneous.
Yet somehow he animates the combined source material into one unique painting image; and the result, here, is without graphic-cliches for a quietly animated likeness. A dual likeness.
- Finally I sense that Randall, when the painting is actually unveiled, will all but explode with joy because, not least, that you think so highly of him but that also you took the initiative- and emotional courage - to realise this commission. Really wonderful..."
Randall, pictured on the right, finally saw the surprise portrait on May 13th & wrote:
"WOW! Something wonderful arrived today....I had to get help to open the well-sealed box, but, once opened, what a beautiful painting emerged!
And what a surprise!....I love the painting....You really captured both of us in the painting...Thanks again for creating a lasting legacy for Steve and me. Our neices will have to fight over the inheritance of it!"
Stephen D Weiss & Randall J Rutledge. 2010
Oil on canvas, 30 x 40in/76 x 102cm
Private collection, Hong Kong
To see Stephen B Whatley with his portraits of Princes William & Harry, please click the link:
www.flickr.com/photos/stephenbwhatley/2938051320/
Steve & Randy. 2010 by Stephen B Whatley
Painting smiles of friendship........... a recent double portrait commissioned from photographs of two collectors of the Expressionist Fine Art of artist Stephen B Whatley. American businessman Stephen D Weiss (left) commissioned this painting as a surprise for his partner British-born Randall R Rutledge; for their home in Hong Kong. In 2008 the lifelong friends and collectors of Royal memorabilia had commissioned from the artist iconic portraits of the Princes William & Harry (again paintings inspired by photographs) - which were subsequently published in HELLO! magazine (October 2008) and Majesty Magazine (January 2009).
Stephen B Whatley had previously met Randall - during presentation of the Princes' portraits; but had only spoken to Stephen via telephone. The artist works so passionately and intuitively from a selection of photographs that he groups as a montage; before capturing the essence of personality and spirit as he casts his eye around the images during creation; feeling his way with heart and soul.
Steve Weiss was sent a jpeg photograph of the painting on completion, before the original was shipped and wrote immediately by email: " Stephen the picture is great, really great. I really think you captured us well, it is very very sweet...it is fabulous...I am anxious to show it to Randy. I really had to stop myself from showing him the picture!!"
Steve began sharing the photograph with friends and family and wrote again to share the eloquent thoughts of art admirer Graham Kern (& a close friend of both subjects of the painting) saying in his email"...please see his reaction below- I think it is very complimentary and eloquent. It IS such a living painting!!"
Graham wrote to his friend
"...my instant reaction, today, is (as The Beach Boys might say) a number of "good vibrations, many over-lapping. Below are a few of my attempts to crystallise my reactions, namely:
- Immediately, the double-portrait oozes with genuine affability due to the recognizable likeness of you from your smiling expressions: its delightful.
- Also, somehow- yet deftly- on each face Stephen has fused a number of sensitively distilled facial aspects which I also, immediately, know as you two.
- I am aware that Stephen has worked and edited some aspects of your 'appearances' from a selection of photographs....although photographs mostly 'freeze' aspects of our subtley, ever-moving faces, Stephen's evolving signature -style is one of vivacious paint -marks, being both gestural and spontaneous.
Yet somehow he animates the combined source material into one unique painting image; and the result, here, is without graphic-cliches for a quietly animated likeness. A dual likeness.
- Finally I sense that Randall, when the painting is actually unveiled, will all but explode with joy because, not least, that you think so highly of him but that also you took the initiative- and emotional courage - to realise this commission. Really wonderful..."
Randall, pictured on the right, finally saw the surprise portrait on May 13th & wrote:
"WOW! Something wonderful arrived today....I had to get help to open the well-sealed box, but, once opened, what a beautiful painting emerged!
And what a surprise!....I love the painting....You really captured both of us in the painting...Thanks again for creating a lasting legacy for Steve and me. Our neices will have to fight over the inheritance of it!"
Stephen D Weiss & Randall J Rutledge. 2010
Oil on canvas, 30 x 40in/76 x 102cm
Private collection, Hong Kong
To see Stephen B Whatley with his portraits of Princes William & Harry, please click the link:
www.flickr.com/photos/stephenbwhatley/2938051320/