As foxhunt season preparations began, Jack Bowman, MFH (retired), knew this would be the last hunt season for his beloved 28 year-old gelding, Saber. Oak Grove Hunt Club’s Blessing of the Hounds event, November 13, 2010, was Saber’s last hunt. He passed away November 27 and was buried in the hunting field.
Noted local artist Pamela Becker was commissioned to paint a portrait of Jack and Saber, based on photos taken after the November Blessing of the Hounds event. Fittingly, the portrait was unveiled among foxhunting friends who knew and loved Saber. The ceremony was held at the hunt club Saturday, January 29.
Becker’s photo-realistic style of oil painting produced more than just a pretty picture—it produced a memorial of a loved one, and of a special event. Becker worked from digital photographs, as it is difficult in today’s busy world for professional people, active children or one’s favorite animal to pose for the time needed to complete a portrait. With photo-realism it is imperative to have a good photo from which to work. On her computer, Becker evaluated the photos of the subject and graphically combined aspects from several photos to produce the best one from which to work. With photo in hand, she then carefully and accurately drew what she saw from the photograph onto a stretched canvas. Becker generally uses a direct method of painting referred to as “wet-on- wet” which allows her to continually develop and define the painting while the paint is still wet on the canvas. Her “palette” is similar to what the “Old Masters” used, consisting of five colors: burnt umber, French ultramarine blue, Alizarin crimson, cadmium yellow and white. All the other colors seen in her completed paintings have been mixed from these five colors.
Other examples of Becker’s paintings can be viewed at http://pamelabeckerstudios. blogspot.com. Please contact her atpbandj@telepak.net to commemorate a special event of your life, a loved one, or a beloved animal.
