Young Athlete Portrait Commission

Although Evan’s portrait was intended to hang alongside the portrait of his sister Sydnie, Marvin felt it was important that the painting reflect Evan’s own personality. The challenge was to create a companion portrait that related to Sydnie’s in scale and overall design while still feeling entirely its own.

Evan was a dedicated young athlete whose life revolved around baseball. Marvin wanted the portrait to reflect the determination and focus that were such an important part of his character. The athletic styling of the shirt helps suggest those interests without overwhelming the portrait or turning it into a sports illustration.

Because Sydnie’s portrait was softer and more understated, Marvin wanted Evan’s portrait to have a little more energy and immediacy. While the two paintings share a similar structure and were intended to hang together, the colors, clothing, and overall feeling of the portrait were chosen to reflect Evan’s more driven and competitive nature.

As with all of Marvin’s portraits, the goal was not simply to record a likeness, but to preserve something essential about the individual. In Evan’s case, it was the sense of focus, ambition, and determination that would later help shape the young man he would become.