Grandpa with his grandkids in the beach commission
A few months ago, on a fine summer day, a client reached out to me with a deeply touching request — to paint a custom portrait of her late husband together with their six grandchildren. It would be a piece that didn’t exist in real life, yet one that would bring her dearest memories to life and fill her home with warmth and remembrance.
Her story moved me deeply. She spoke of how much she still missed her husband, who passed away five years ago from leukemia, and how precious the moments were when he spent time with their grandchildren. She shared individual photos of each grandchild with him, reminiscing about how little they were back then.
But there was one thing she wished she had — a single photo of all of them together. That’s when she came to me, hoping I could create what had never been captured: a portrait of her husband surrounded by all six grandchildren, a timeless image of love and togetherness.
When I asked her what setting she envisioned, she immediately said a beach vacation. She had seen one of my earlier paintings, “Playful Beach Memories,” featuring a father and son by the ocean, and she imagined a similar scene for her family.
After finalizing the painting size and framing details, I began bringing her vision to life. I started with a textured underpainting using a palette knife, building the base with rich layers of acrylics. Then came the serene ocean scene — soft pink skies at sunset blending into gentle waves — setting the perfect mood for this family memory.
Next, I lightly sketched the figures, carefully positioning each child according to age and height so the composition felt natural and intimate. The two youngest girls, just one and two years old, were nestled in their grandpa’s arms — a detail made easier by the reference photos my client had shared. The older children stood by in front, with the eldest boy by his grandfather’s side, a tender nod to their special bond.
The most intricate part came next — painting each face and expression. With my smallest brushes, I worked to capture every detail, every spark of personality. My client and I went back and forth several times to ensure her husband’s likeness was just right — adjusting the smile, the eyes, even the shape of his head until he felt alive on the canvas once again.
Though it was a long and detailed process, I cherished every moment of it. Watching the portrait evolve from sketches to a living memory was both humbling and fulfilling. These are the kinds of commissions that remind me why I love what I do — not only because I get to transform a beautiful story into art, but because each piece challenges me, teaches me, and deepens my connection to the people behind the story.
I hope you enjoyed reading about this commission, and my client’s sweet story. If you would like to turn your story into an artistic keepsake, feel free to email me at poojaroystudio@gmail.com to discuss! Or visit my Commissions page for more info.
