Formal Portrait Painting of Virginia Couple
48″ x 72″, Acrylic on Canvas, 2006
by Charles C. Clear III
This formal portrait features a young couple posing with their beloved dogs in the elegance of their stately Virginia home.
Carefully composed, the painting explores the interplay between people and their surroundings. Our environments shape us, just as we, in turn, shape them. Every detail—who we love, what we wear, the pets we cherish, and how we furnish our homes—reflects our identity and personal choices. These elements are not just objects; they are extensions of our essence.
This full-length, hand-painted portrait is meticulously detailed. Each brushstroke captures the exact likeness of both the subjects and their environment. Note the texture of the dogs’ fur, the delicate print of the woman’s dress, the intricate fabric of the chair, the fine pattern of the man’s tie, the rich wood grain of the floor, and the carefully rendered curio filled with books and a tea set. Even the painting on the wall, framed in ornate gold, adds to the layered storytelling within this piece.
To ensure the portrait’s authenticity, I traveled to Virginia to meet the couple in their home. After photographing them in various settings, I was drawn to the antechamber of their study as the ideal backdrop—a space that perfectly encapsulated their refined yet personal aesthetic. The painting was then meticulously brought to life in my studio before I personally delivered the painting to them in Mechanicsville, Virginia.
Charles C. Clear III
cc@oceanstateart.com