Self-Portrait of Artist in Oil
An Artistic Heritage
Ms. Rockwell’s unique and exciting talent as a top oil portrait artist was kindled early in life by her cousin, renowned American artist Norman Rockwell. She considers him the greatest source of her inspiration and carries on his legend by capturing the warm, human touch in her oil portrait paintings. She is available for hire for commissioned oil portraits.
About The Oil Portrait Artist, Jessica Rockwell
Jessica Priscilla Rockwell was born of an old Savannah family, and reared in Savannah, Georgia, in an ante-bellum house named Bonnie Doon located on the Vernon River. She was formally trained in Fine Art at Sophie Newcomb College in New Orleans, University of Georgia at Athens and the Kuntzgewerbeshule of Basel, Switzerland. This training launched her for further artistic endeavors in Paris and Avignon in France; Rome, Italy; Montreal, Canada and California. When she discovered a special love for making portraits, she found an intriguing niche. “I love pouring over the photo references to capture aesthetically the special uniqueness of a person. I always think that my thousands, or millions, of brushstrokes add up to a lot more than the photographs.”
A portrait oil artist for hire accepting commissions, Ms. Rockwell has won such awards as an art scholarship from the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program, and “Best of Show” at the Beverly Hills Art in the Gardens Affaire. She has been affiliated as a member of the American Society of Portrait Artists.
Since 1999, Ms. Rockwell has made her home in Clearwater, Florida, where she has had two one-woman shows, and built a large studio that shows her work. She is friendly and helpful and would enjoy discussing your portrait commission ideas with you in a no-obligation free consultation. Just contact her here . You can also sign up for her occasional newsletter that showcases one portrait and shares some of the back story.
For photos of oil portrait artist, Jessica Rockwell, and her manager/photographer husband: Spring 2015, New Year 2014, New Year 2013, New Year 2012, Art is a Portal.
Oil Portrait – Testimonial
“We are so lucky to have found you to paint the portrait of our daughter. We enjoyed your honest and caring approach throughout the procedure, your spot-on advice from years of experience, and the breathtaking oil portrait that perfectly captures our daughter at this beautiful age. It has become a family treasure.” —CP
More testimonials can be found here and also liberally throughout The Blog. There is also a rotating testimonial section just in the sidebar to the right.
To learn about Ms. Rockwell’s art studio and her procedure of creating a portrait, please click here: Studio and Procedure.
To view the oil portrait galleries, start here: Children Oil Portraits.
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Choosing an Oil Portrait Artist for Hire
Although you may have hundreds of photographs, the decision to have an oil portrait done sometimes comes only once in a lifetime. Once you have it done, it will last for generations. Possibly the most important aspect of commissioning an oil portrait artist is to choose your artist wisely.
Can the artist capture a likeness?
This is at the top of your checklist. You want a portrait that makes you smile each time you pass it. Capturing a likeness is actually a special skill. In fact, painters can be excellent artists and yet lack this ability. How can you be sure the artist you choose has this expertise?
- If you know the person in the painting, you can easily tell.
- Ask to see reference photographs of paintings that you can compare.
- Look for testimonials that mention this proficiency.
- Minimally, look at their portfolio just to see how real and lifelike the people are.
Do you like their work?
- Does the oil portrait artist’s work look realistic? Professional?
- Do you like their style? Color? Brushstrokes? Level of realism?
Does the artist pick the best pose, setting and lighting to show the personality of the subject?
- Does the lighting enhance the painting?
- When you see reference photos, ask yourself: has the oil portrait artist improved on the photo and made it more alive?
What kind of materials does the oil portrait artist use?
- High-quality archival materials in both canvas and paints are key to making your portrait last for centuries.
Does the artist use a photograph for reference only or merely paint over one?
- Before commissioning an oil portrait artist, find out if they are creating an original work of art or just modifying a photograph.
- An original oil painting’s value far surpasses that of a painted photo.
How well does the artist communicate with you?
Some people will know exactly what they want. Others will want the artist to make most of the decisions. You need an artist who can accommodate your level of participation. A good artist should be able to:
- Guide you with suggestions that will lead to the best portrait possible.
- Know generally what will and will not work.
- If working long-distance, the artist should be able to help you get the best photo reference by email and phone.
