PORTRAITS & COMMISSIONS


One of Blaise's exceptional abilities as a painter is to capture a sympathetic likeness. He achieves this by working from Life with the subject for several sittings. This personal approach and the interaction allows him to get to know the person. By seeing someone in their own environment among their own possessions he is able to incorporate the things that are important to them. The finished painting is in the end a collaboration between the Artist and the Sitter, and perhaps this approach is why Blaise has always enjoyed a great success with his portraits on a personal level.


On a professional level he has won many prizes for his portraits and they have been been exhibited far and wide. He has been Commissioned by the OPW for the Dail, and completed several other state commissions. He has also been commissioned by many Institutions such as Trinity College, the Abbey Theatre and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.  


jules and lyra


Jules and Lyra 2014

Dean William Morton


Dean William Morton - Collection of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin

Bernard Farrell portrait FINAL


D18823-0015

The launch of the new portrait of playwright Bernard Farrell, by the artist Blaise Smith at the Abbey Theatre with Joe Dowling.. Picture Colm Mahady / Fennells - Copyright© Fennell Photography 2016.

Full mairead painting


Mairead Furlong for Wexford County Council, Oil on Gesso Panel 2017



Lord James Blyth of Rowington

Blaise Smith has also recently completed this portrait of Lord James Blyth of Rowington (at home with Polly) 2014. Oil on canvas 30 x 40 inches. Lord Blyth was kind enough to sit for several days at his home in Gloucestershire. He has previously been painted by John Wonnacott whilst CEO of Boots plc, and those of you who know about portraiture will understand that this was no pressure, really.


Contact for commissions


See PORTRAITS for further examples

Version D

8 Scientists, Royal Irish Academy, 2016, Winner of the Irish Arts Review/ US Council Award for Portraiture at the RHA Annual show 2017

Group portraits, such as family groups, will be quoted for, but in general are more expensive than a Full length Portrait - it depends on the size, complexity and number of figures. 

Number of sittings required : from 4

Will travel within Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK 

Will travel elsewhere Depending on the circumstances

I am generally happy to paint Children if they are happy to be painted... 


justice sean RyanNial FEnnelly drawing








PORTRAIT DRAWING COMMISSIONS

These Drawings were both done from life and took 6 hours each approximately.








STILL LIFE COMMISSIONS

Because Blaise is well known as an adept still life painter he accepts many commissions for still lives featuring some of the commissioner's own possessions. These are often done as wedding gifts, birthday presents and special Christmas Presents and feature items or themes of significance to the commissioner.

See further examples of Commissioned Still Lives



LANDSCAPE COMMISSIONS

Blaise has also received several commissions to paint Landscapes that are meaningful to the commissioner in some way, again as gifts or personal mementos. Machinery and Buildings are also a favorite subject. A notable recent Commission was the a Panorama of Waterford City for Waterford City museum where it is on Permamnent Display:


 


 






All text and images © Blaise Smith 2020