Refer to THE PROCESS OF HAVING A PORTRAIT PAINTED, BIOGRAPHY, TESTIMONIALS and DETAILS OF PORTRAITS ON THESE PAGES.

THE PROCESS HAVING A PORTRAIT PAINTED

     First, the artist meets with her clients to discuss the spirit, mood, size and price of the portrait. The degree of formality is also discussed. Today a casual elegance is often preferred for the home and more formal statements are chosen for boardrooms, businesses or institutions.
     Next the artist meets with the subject of the portrait. Because a painted portrait should reveal insights into the person’s spirit and essence as well as capture his or her physical likeness this is an important meeting. To find the elusive qualities which make a person unique she likes to do this in a comfortable setting, preferably in the subject’s own surroundings.
     A photography session follows, again preferably in the sitter’s home, place of work or characteristic setting. The first meeting and the photography session can be combined if travel and time limits make this necessary
     The artist selects photographs which would best contribute to the painted portrait and then presents these to the client for the final selection.
     The portrait is painted in the artist’s studio and then presented to the client.

BIOGRAPHY

     Born in Hawaii, Irene Appleyard now resides in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where she has a portrait and fine arts studio. She attended Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii, has a B.A. in English Literature from Chatham College, and a Diploma in Fine Arts from the Pennsylvania School of Art and Design. She continued her portrait and figure studies at the Art Students’ League and the National Academy of Design in New York City. She has taken intensive portraiture courses with Everett Raymond Kinstler, painter of several U.S. presidents, community and international leaders and other renowned individuals; Daniel Greene, prominent oil and pastel artist; Jack Callahan, Boston and Rockport portraitist; and Bettina Steinke, highly regarded southwestern colorist. She has studied portraits in many museums especially in Paris and New York.
     Ms Appleyard was an award winner at the Washington Society of Portrait Artists, Washington, D.C. Other prizes she has won are the prestigious Louis La Beamme Prize at the National Academy of Design, several prizes at  “Figuratively Speaking” shows at the Art Association of Harrisburg and at the Pennsylvania Academy of Art and Design. She has been in shows at the Portrait Society of Atlanta, the Pen and Brush in New York City, the Chestertown Art League in Maryland and several other venues in South Central Pennsylvania. She has taught portraiture and has been a juror for several art exhibits.
     She is a member of the Portrait Society of America, the Art Students’ League of New York, the Portrait Society of Atlanta and the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society. Her paintings are in collections in England, China, Hawaii and many other states in the United States.

TESTIMONIALS

      “The Chestertown Art League would like to officially send you our appreciation and hearty thank you for the great job you did in the judging and critique of our 50th Annual Juried Show. So many artists said how much they had learned from your critiques and that the selection and hanging of the show was the best the Art League had ever had. I am also very glad that you shared your own work with us during the exhibit. They were greatly admired.”    Bonnie Howell, Chestertown Art League, Chestertown, MD

      “To me the highlight of the evening in honor of John’s retirement was seeing the portrait of him. You did a beautiful job in capturing his warmth, kindliness and sense of humor. We are thrilled with the portrait!”    Ellen Cramer, wife of John Cramer, former CEO of Harrisburg Hospital

      “I love my portrait! It really captures me the way I am most comfortable... in my office without a suit coat and with my sleeves rolled up. The coloring and expression on my face are superb. Thank you so much, Irene, for taking the time and making the effort to get it perfect I will always treasure this masterpiece!”    Michael Leader, CEO Country Meadows Retirement Communities, Hershey, PA

      “Bob loves the watercolor of me you painted for my gift to him for our wedding. He cried when he saw it.”    Shelly Smith, Camp Hill, PA

     “I was shocked when young Jim arrived in Florida with the painting — it was like “Papa” was back with us again. It is one of my prize possessions and it is now hanging on my living room wall here in Massachusetts. It will carefully go back and forth between here and Florida as I go!”       Betty Nesbitt, Chatham, MA

      “The portrait you did of my Dad is gorgeous. What a tribute and we all felt like our Dad was there in real life. We all shed many tears, and your work could not have been more beautiful. Everything about the portrait was exactly like my Dad. I don’t think anything could top your portrait. It’s a treasure we will all enjoy for years.”    Judy Nesbitt, Washington D.C.

PORTRAITS EXHIBITED HERE:

Portrait Samples
Click on Images