Capture more than just a moment,
make it a timeless memory.
L.A. CLINE Pays Homage to Super Bowl XLIX with a Sports Painting

L.A. CLINE Pays Homage to Super Bowl XLIX with a Sports Painting

It all started with a dream to paint Dolphin Quarterback, Dan Marino, back in 1996. L.A. Cline started to paint two Pastel Paintings of Dan Marino, one a portrait and one an action scene, entitled, ‘The Game’ measuring 38”X45”. These paintings were the spark that lit the fire to continue painting Sports Athletes. By going to the games, experiencing the head to head combat between players, the strategies and passion to win all fueled the Artist’s desire to paint a new kind of Sports Historic Painting capturing these moments forever. L.A. Cline states, “For me our athletes are like gladiators, fighting against all odds to win and stay on top.’ A quote by Vince Lombardi says it all, ‘The harder you work the harder it is to surrender’.” Creating the Super Bowl XXXIII Painting was an incredible feat for the Artist. L.A. Cline “Seeing John Elway actually make that last winning touchdown was a thrilling moment. To capture and immortalize that moment within a 45”X52” Pastel Painting, is a work of Art to behold.” The Artist starts with a pencil sketch to scale before each painting. One painting as large as this one with so many details took six months to finish. All the creations of L.A. CLINE are drawn and painted by hand. The Artist uses a method of building layer upon layer of Pastel pigment developing the depth and details that unveils the “Super Realistic” quality of each legacy painting. This painting is a show stopper when displayed at events. It is also a part of the Artists personal collection. The LACfineart.com website serves as an in-depth...
Why Do People Become Artists?

Why Do People Become Artists?

Why do people become Artists? Out of all of the career choices out there, why do some people feel they must create art as a profession? Certainly, there are safer, more financially predictable ways to make a living. What exactly is it that drives a person to make this “unpractical” life choice? The passionate need to express one’s self, experiences, opinions and visions can manifest itself in many ways. While we are born with this need and taught by parents, teachers and others as children, it is the few of us who fight to keep and develop the skills as an artist. It seems as though as soon as we begin our lives as artists, those of us who choose to keep, harbor, nourish and hone the inner artist are often thought of as flighty dreamers. Yet the reality is, few people live with the kind of passion, dedication, integrity, and commitment that gives persistence and will to believe you are truly born an Artist. The artist feels a marrow-deep need to document the legacy of being alive in this era, in this place, in this moment. The artist needs you to see the things that you are overlooking in your daily routine of “living.” The artist grabs you by the shoulders, stops you in your tracks, or alternatively shakes you out of your hypnosis to remind you that once the imagination is revealed it creates the wonderful world of Art. Art dares you to feel the emotions you’ve been suppressing in favor of the passion and persistence that it takes to see through completing a creation. The artist...
Corporate Pastel Portraits

Corporate Pastel Portraits

Corporate Portraits are incredibly important to company headquarters of all major corporations. Many businesses pay an experienced Portrait Artist to create an exact portrait of key executives who have contributed greatly to the growth and prosperity of a business and guided its progress. With the help of such a portrait, colleagues, the community, and other individuals impacted by their work can remember these special people well after they have retired and/or departed from the company. A Corporate Portrait is no ordinary honor, as it is made for only a select few people. Therefore, commissioning a corporate painting is a task to be given the highest priority. L.A. Cline has received the esteemed honor of being chosen to create manycorporate portraits of top leaders. This type of portrait requires an experienced artist who understands that the image must represent not only an individual, but the entire corporation behind them. Generally, a Corporate Portrait starts from a sketch of the individual in person. The artist will see what poses are comfortable and natural for the subject and consider various color patterns for the Corporate Portrait. The Corporate Portrait Artist will take the designs back to her studio for finalization and thereafter final approval from the client. Video on ‘Corporate Pastel Portraits’ See more of L.A. Cline’s videos here   One of the many advantages of pastel painting is that no drying time is required, as with other forms of painting. This means that the Corporate Portrait can be directly critiqued by the client. The artist can make important changes right before the client’s eyes. While clients can recommend the size of the painting at the start, the Portrait Artist, L.A. Cline, may suggest other...
Super Bowl XLVII, Ravens Quarterback, Joe Flacco

Super Bowl XLVII, Ravens Quarterback, Joe Flacco

This is a free-hand Pencil Sketch of Ravens Quarterback Joe Flacco.  This pencil art sketch design was developed from watching Super Bowl XLVII, seeing Joe Flacco interviews on TV and looking at the random photos on line. I have been a sports fan for many years now and have an extensive collection of paintings on my website in the Sports and Athletes Gallery. http://www.lacfineart.com/portrait-painting-pastel-art-gallery.php When I am commissioned to create a pastel portrait painting my pencil art sketches are drawn to the same scale as the finished painting.  These pencil art drawings are the blue print of what my clients should expect as far as what the subject looks like and the size.  It is a great way to start a portrait painting since it really relaxes my clients when they can see their painting as a portrait drawing and make corrections if necessary. I recently wrote an article in my blog about, “ Tips on How to Hire a Portrait Artist”.  It is a great read! http://www.lacfineart.com/fine-art-blog/how-to-hire-a-portrait-artist-tip/ The original Flacco Pencil Art Sketch is 16”X20” and a “Work of Art”. This image was not a commission but is a part of my ever growing Sports Collection.  It is a dynamic image of Joe Flacco filled with determination and that winning stare.  It is the essence of a strong, young, Super Bowl Quarterback. I scanned the original pencil drawing of Flacco to create this email.  This “Work of Art” bares the copyright symbol ©L.A. Cline, which means that no one can copy, sell, or distribute this image.  You can enjoy the art or inquire about the original. Like me on Facebook    http://www.facebook.com/portraitartist.fineart?ref=hl Written by:  L.A....
Tips on how to Hire a Portrait Artist

Tips on how to Hire a Portrait Artist

1. First of all, you must love the Artist’s work. Look at as many pieces as possible, and don’t be shy about calling the Artist or the organization you like the most. 2.  When you decide on a portrait, whether it be Corporate, Family, Pet, Sports, Entertainment portraits or a special Landscape Portrait, ask about the process. When I first spend time with a client, they usually specify what type of portrait they would like. I then explain how I create a detailed pencil sketch to scale, prior to creating the actual painting.  By doing this, my clients can see the face, body, and details of what will become a final product – in the actual size of the painting. We can then all critique the sketch and make corrections, if necessary. I find this process is relaxing for my clients, and it makes the creation process even more fun. 3. After speaking with the Artist and providing all the detailed information necessary, the next question is where to display the completed painting. The Artist should physically see where the space – whether a room, courtroom, business or other area – and understand the lighting, size of the space, et cetera. This helps also guide the conversation about frame size, shape and color. I have longstanding relationships with local framers, who I work with when the time comes.  Since my portraits are pastel paintings, special care is required to create museum-quality environment for these Masterpiece works of art, and I personally supervise the framing process to ensure this. 4. Paintings take time to create so there is usually a contract...

L.A. Cline’s Memorial Corporate Portrait Permanently Displayed in Key West, Florida Courthouse

When you visit Key West, Florida be sure to visit the Sidney M. Aronovitz United States Courthouse at 301 Simonton Street to see the 39.5”X 54” Masterpiece Pastel Portrait of Federal Judge Sidney M. Aronovitz created by Artist, L.A. Cline in the Main Lobby. The Courthouse was constructed in 1931-1932 by James Wetmore, the Acting Supervising Architect of the Treasury. On October 19, 2009 the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate designated the Courthouse as the Sidney M. Aronovitz United States Courthouse. Judge Aronovitz’s Grandfather, David Aronovitz arrived in Key West from Europe and founded a family of Key West pioneers whose contributions to the city were honored with the naming of Aronovitz Lane.  Sidney M. Aronovitz, born in Key West in 1920, went to Key West High School and Graduated as Senior Class President and Valedictorian.  He went to the University of Florida and earned his law degree with honors. Aronovitz served in the U.S. Army as a Captain in Europe from 1943 to 1946 and earned the Bronze Star.  The Honorable Aronovitz was the United States Southern District Judge of Florida for over 20 years.  In 1976 President Gerald R. Ford appointed Aronovitz to the Federal Bench where he served his hometown with great distinction for the remainder of his life. L.A. Cline painted this corporate portrait by hand using layer upon layer of pastel chalk to develop this legacy painting.   A Giclee, Fine Art Reproduction of this painting can also be viewed at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC, at the American Art and Portrait Gallery Library in the “Living Artists File” were...

Portrait Artist L.A. Cline Receives Smithsonian Institute Honor

L.A. Cline was commissioned to recreate a portrait of The Honorable Judge Aronovitz that will be on permanent display in the lobby of the Sidney M. Aronovitz United States Courthouse located in Key West, Florida, which was renamed in his honor on February 22, 2010. Originally from Key West, Florida, Federal Judge Sidney M. Aronovitz was nominated by President Gerald Ford to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida on August 4, 1976. L.A. Cline scanned the Original Memorial Pastel Painting of Federal Judge Aronovitz and sent a Giclee print to the Director of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC. The Curator of Prints and Drawings sent L.A. Cline’s print and information to the Smithsonian American Art and Portrait Gallery Library to be included in the “Living Artists File” where certain Artist’s are recommended to all that request future Commissioned Portraits. You can view the image of Federal Judge Aronovitz at www.LACfineart.com Go to “IN THE NEWS” to read his biography and press...
Sometimes Life Gets in the Way – Story behind a Corporate Portrait

Sometimes Life Gets in the Way – Story behind a Corporate Portrait

It has been since December of 2010 that I have written on My Blog but sometimes Life does get in the way. For all those out there that have elderly parents I hope this touches home. My Father has Alzheimer’s and is currently in a Nursing Home.  He is very moody and very normal or what we call a normal day activity like going to the bathroom, pulling up his pants or just standing up takes a huge toll on him.  While the nurses are wonderful no one can be with him every minute.  My Mother, my Son and I lovingly spend as much time each week as possible to care for him.  It certainly takes a toll on all of us. Fortunately, I have my Art to take me away from some of this heartbreak.  Last August I was commissioned by Tod Aronovitz to create a corporate portrait of his Father, Federal Judge Sidney M. Aronovitz that  now can be viewed on my Website www.LACfineart.com under Corporate Portraits. This commission was very difficult since Judge Aronovitz passed on about 15 years ago.  The family gave me a few photographs of him ranging from a young man of thirty to about 70.  One photograph in particular was the family favorite.  It was a black and white head and shoulder pose. It just so happens that one other photograph had a very small image of Judge Aronovitz standing within a group of people where I could discern his approximate height, weight and size of his head and shoulders compared to his contemporaries.  From there I actually measured Tod’s head, shoulders, hands, wrists, height for comparison.  This information gave me general...

My New Commission – A Corporate Portrait Painting from Photo.

I have been posting pictorial Blogs as I created each part of my newest Pastel Painting, “Enchanting Bloom”.  This beautiful painting is now in the finishing stages with only the top portion of the flower to be painted in. Since my last Blog I have put “Enchanting Bloom” aside to work on a new Memorial commission of a Federal Judge that will be on  permanent display in the Key West Court House which has been dedicated in his name.  This honor was bestowed upon me by his son. Through personal dialogue with his son along with a few photographs of his Father I created an original realistic sketch to scale featuring The Judge in a three-quarter length pose from head to mid-thigh measuring about 40″X50″. This sketch took me a month to develop. I am very happy to say that the family members critiqued and approved the sketch.  I am now painting the portrait from which I rendered from a photo. After many years of creating portraits without actually meeting the subject I knew my past experience was invaluable for this project.  It has been a joy right from the start. There will be a press release and a new page added to my web site when the portrait painting is completed.  The painting will take about three to four months more to paint and custom frame. After my client approves the press release I will be able to give you more details about this incredible, “Great American” I am painting. Meanwhile, I will be updating “Enchanting Bloom” in my next Blog in about ten days. Your comments are always welcome, Sincerely, L.A....