A portrait of love across generations
I've just completed a portrait commission that was quite unlike anything I'd worked on before. What made it truly special was the combination of personal significance, creative collaboration, and the technical challenge of adapting my artistic style to tell a deeply meaningful story.
The commission began when my client saw one of my Ischia bather series paintings—a work featuring two figures viewed from behind. She was drawn to this perspective and wanted to commission an oil painting with a similar approach. But this wasn't simply about recreating a composition. She envisioned something far more personal: a portrait of her daughter and granddaughter, set against a landscape with water, celebrating motherhood. The painting also held another layer of meaning—it was created in memory of her own mother, who had recently passed away.
Working with my client to develop the concept was genuinely collaborative. We discussed the background extensively, and she shared photographs from Northumberland, a place deeply significant to her family. From these images, I selected a reference that felt right for the piece—a landscape that would anchor the figures while honouring the location's importance to them.
The technical challenge came when I considered the colour palette. My Ischia bather series is known for its warm, sun-soaked tones—vibrant blues, golden light, and Mediterranean warmth. But this commission required the figures to be dressed for winter, and the setting needed to feel authentic to a cooler climate. I had to thoughtfully adapt those beloved colours, finding a way to maintain the richness and luminosity that drew my client to my work, while ensuring the overall composition felt true to the season and setting.
What I loved most about this process was how the painting became a bridge between past and present—honouring a cherished memory while celebrating the bond between generations. Viewing the figures from behind created an intimate quality, as if we're looking over their shoulders at a private moment together where the future stretched out before them with promise.
The painting is now with my client (see below), and I'm grateful for the opportunity to create something so meaningful.
Alison Morse, the commissioner, said:
"Stella did a portrait of my daughter and baby in a coastal setting. I was delighted with the result and loved the bold colours. The process was very collaborative and Stella was keen to make sure that I was happy with the painting at every stage. I really enjoyed working with her and would highly recommend."
