Child and Pet Portrait Commission

This full-length portrait of two-and-a-half-year-old Andrew presented Marvin Mattelson with an interesting design challenge. Andrew’s parents wanted him depicted wearing a finely tailored Italian outfit—a gift from his grandparents—consisting of dark gray slacks, a red sweater vest, and a bright white shirt.

Marvin immediately recognized that the white shirt could easily become the focal point of the painting. While discussing the commission with the family, he noticed a light beige chair in their living room and realized it provided the perfect solution. Its color and value relationships allowed the shirt to integrate naturally into the composition rather than dominate it.

The red sweater vest then became an important design element, helping to frame Andrew’s face and direct attention toward his expression. The chair itself also played a significant role by partially overlapping the clothing and breaking up some of the larger shapes, further preventing the outfit from becoming visually overpowering.

Dusty, the family schnauzer, was included for both personal and artistic reasons. Beyond commemorating a beloved family pet, the dog helped balance the composition and provided an additional point of visual interest that ultimately leads the viewer back toward Andrew himself.

What appears to be a simple portrait of a child and his dog is actually the result of a series of decisions designed to keep the focus where it belongs. For Marvin, creating a successful portrait is not simply a matter of recording appearances. It involves recognizing visual problems, finding thoughtful solutions, and organizing the various elements of a painting in a way that best expresses the individual being portrayed.

The resulting portrait captures not only Andrew’s likeness, but also the warmth, charm, and sense of family that made the commission meaningful in the first place.