Source: Artist Sarah Boardman
President Barack Obama as depicted in a work-in-progress “under painting” by Colorado Springs artist Sarah Boardman. The finished portrait, which will have color glazes applied, is to be dedicated in May in the Colorado Capitol’s presidential gallery.
By Don Knox, STATE BILL COLORADO
The Barack Obama who will grace Colorado’s “gallery of presidents” strikes a serious pose with his face turned slightly to his left. He’s wearing a suit with — yes — a lapel pin.
The painting of the 44th U.S. president, still a work in progress, is the work of artist Sarah A. Boardman. A committee selected Boardman from more than 80 other artist applicants for the work; it’s being paid for with private funds.
State Bill reached the artist on Monday at her Colorado Springs studio, where she described the “Old Master” technique that she’s employing.
“In the Old Master technique, you do an under painting in black and white oils, then glaze on colors after that,” she said. “It uses a lot less paint. The colors were so expensive back then.”
Boardman brought the Obama under painting to a meeting last week of the Capitol Building Advisory Committee. The committee oversees art and architecture at Colorado’s Capitol.
Back in November, the committee and the artist sorted through 12 Corbis photographs of the president before deciding on a single image. The presentation of the under painting was the second step in the process.
“They were very pleased,” Boardman said of the committee members. “They were encouraged that it was coming a long nicely. Because they’re paying for this, they need to have their approval and feel confident it’s actually going to come about.”
The commission is $10,000.
Boardman, a native of England and the great-granddaughter and great-grandniece of artists who took part in founding the Newlyn Group, paints in the style of the late Lawrence Williams, who painted the 43 presidential portraits hanging on the third floor of the Capitol rotunda. Williams died in 2003.
In her biography, she says:
My style reaches for a combination of fascinating detail and depth. I strive to obtain the balance between a true likeness and the soul of a subject – the combination of these factors is essential to showing a person in their best light. The eyes in particular create the soul, and the painting is the setting. Much of my non-commissioned work is of portraits (that) convey varied and conflicting emotions to the viewer. Costumes and fabric hold a particular fascination for me, particularly of the Edwardian and Victorian periods. A large segment of my work is taken up with portrait commissions, which are shipped worldwide. Varied emotions are conveyed by my paintings, with conflict and debate being the primary goal – the “why” or “what” surrounding a particular expression of a subject.
Then-Rep. Paul Weissmann took the lead on adding Obama to the presidential gallery. The lead gift was given by former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb and his wife, Wilma. The portrait is to be finished in April and dedicated before the 2011 legislative session ends in May.
And about that American flag lapel pin? While on the 2008 campaign trail, Obama caused a stir by not wearing it. But it’s been back ever since, and now it’ll be on the portrait, too.
