A portrait of a girl is a special occasion that at times seems to be a foreshadowing of their wedding day. There is much attention and care given to finding just the right dress and a great deal of time given to how the hair will be worn. There is never any doubt that the portrait is going to be special and have an important place in the home for years to come.

I enjoy these portraits very much. It is as close as I will ever get to paint the elaborate dresses from the Edwardian period when my favorite painters lived. The one thing that I always keep in mind when painting little girls portraits is too try and see past the beautiful dress and hair and remember that there is a little person in there.

I have seen many paintings of girls that take on a doll like quality; it can be easy to do. To make sure I capture the girls personality I spend time talking with them and their parents to get an idea of who she is.

The portrait is ultimately for the person commissioning it and I pay close attention to their desires. Working together is important to create a beautiful work of art that is also unique to the sitter.