Posthumous Family Portrait Commission

Shortly after the premature passing of his wife Ariel, Michael Cohen contacted Marvin about creating a portrait in her memory. During their first meeting, however, the conversation gradually moved in a different direction. Rather than focusing on Ariel alone, they both came to the conclusion that the painting should celebrate the life she had shared with her family. Ariel had always been at the center of that family, and it felt natural that she should remain at the center of the portrait as well.

As they explored different areas of the home as possible settings for the painting, Michael eventually brought Marvin to the rooftop garden Ariel had designed. Filled with flowers, vines, and places for the family to gather, it immediately felt like the perfect setting. More than simply a backdrop, it was one of Ariel’s creations. Her energy could still be felt there, and Marvin knew without hesitation that this was where the portrait belonged.

Michael often described Ariel as a warm and deeply informal person and felt that quality should be reflected in the portrait. During their discussions, he recalled one of the family’s favorite traditions. Ariel would gather the children together and read from The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex, bringing each character to life through a different voice and personality. It was one of the many ways she transformed an ordinary moment into something memorable.

Rather than portraying the family in a formal pose, Marvin felt this familiar scene captured something far more meaningful. The painting would not simply depict Ariel’s appearance. It would celebrate the warmth, affection, humor, and sense of connection that had made her such an important part of her family’s life.

With the setting and activity established, attention turned to the clothing. Michael invited Marvin to look through Ariel’s wardrobe to determine what might be appropriate. He explained that green had always been her favorite color and that much of her wardrobe reflected that preference.

Since the garden was already dominated by greens, if Ariel were to remain at the center of the composition, her clothing needed to distinguish her from the surrounding environment.

Then, tucked away at the bottom of a drawer, Marvin found a pink sweater. It was exactly what the painting needed.

Marvin chose the clothing for the rest of the family to complement and harmonize with the setting without distracting from Ariel.

The next challenge was the photography itself. The family was initially photographed in the rooftop garden so Marvin could study exactly how the light described their forms and interacted with the environment. During that session, however, another problem quickly surfaced. Michael and two of the children wore progressive eyeglasses that automatically darkened outdoors, turning into sunglasses as soon as they stepped into the daylight.

To solve the problem, Marvin carefully photographed the garden and furniture outdoors, preserving Ariel’s creation exactly as it existed. He then measured and mapped the arrangement before moving the furniture into the family’s apartment. There he recreated the lighting conditions, allowing the family to be photographed indoors while maintaining the authenticity of the original setting.

Since Ariel was no longer available to participate, a stand-in model wearing her clothing was used to establish her position within the composition.

Not every important detail can be carefully planned. During one of the photography sessions, the family cat unexpectedly jumped onto the chaise. Marvin immediately recognized an opportunity and snapped the photograph. A moment later, the cat was gone.

The photo of the cat ultimately became a key part of the final painting. During Ariel’s illness, the cat had provided her with comfort and companionship. What began as a spontaneous moment became another meaningful connection to the life the portrait was intended to celebrate.

Michael gave Marvin hundreds of photographs spanning many years of family life. Among them was one image that captured exactly the expression and angle he was looking for. Unfortunately, the lighting was completely wrong.

To solve that problem, Marvin sculpted Ariel’s head, allowing him to create the perfect lighting pattern.

The creation of the reference material alone required months of planning, photography, reconstruction, and refinement. Hundreds of individual images were ultimately assembled to create the final composition. The painting itself would take more than a year to complete.

After the painting was framed, Michael invited Marvin back to see it installed in its permanent home. The portrait hung above the fireplace in the den, exactly where the two of them had sat during their first meeting.

The painting’s impact extended beyond the family itself. At some point after its completion, someone viewing the portrait recognized the book Ariel was reading and contacted its author, Adam Rex. Moved by the story behind the painting, he reached out to both Marvin and Michael, expressing his sympathy and how honored he felt that his work had become part of such a meaningful family memory.

What began as a portrait of remembrance ultimately became a celebration of family, love, and shared experience. Rather than focusing on loss, the painting preserves a moment of connection, allowing Ariel to remain exactly where Michael felt she had always belonged—at the center of the family she loved.