Even the most experienced artist can have difficulty describing what makes a painted portrait so special. They are often romantically characterized as ‘magic’, ‘timeless’, or ‘capturing a person’s essence.’ But what does that really mean? It is more than recording someone’s existence in time, as a simple photograph can do. A successful painting is based on the artist’s ability to interpret the abstract concept of life and beauty and translate it into the concrete physical form of a painting. A good artist strives to challenge the viewer to see the nuances of a figure through a different set of eyes, to accentuate the curve of a cheek or the sparkle of an eye with a dramatic brushstroke or brilliant color. This is something that the yearly family photo neglects to do as the sitters appear frozen in time, rarely capturing personality, and always appearing out of date in just a few years. Whereas a photograph of a person will be easily dismissed as representing something from the past, a painting can be a journey as it celebrates someone’s life. When you observe a painted portrait you find yourself thinking about their personality and studying their features. Ultimately, what will make your portrait so unique and extraordinary is the connection you will have with the loved one depicted within the painting. This intimate portrayal is done with elegance and thoughtfulness in a way no photograph could provide.